Anthrax comes in four different clinical forms including: Cutaneous- A skin lesion evolving over two to six days from a papule, through a vesicular stage to a depressed black eschar. Inhalation - a brief prodrome resembling a viral respiratory illness followed by development of hypoxia and dyspnea. Intestinal- severe abdominal distress followed by a fever and signs of septicemia. Oropharyngeal- muscosal is the lesion in the oral cavity or oropharynx cervical adenopathy and edema, and fever.

The symptoms of these four clinical forms are, Cutaneous: Most anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin such as, when you handle contaminated wool, hides leather, or hair products of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that looks something as a large insect bite but within one - two days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer. Lymph glands in the area close may have severe swelling. About twenty % of untreated cases of cutaneous anthrax will eventually result in death. Deaths are rare with ap

There is a vaccine available. It is a weakened spore vaccine combined with potent hyperimmune anthrax serum (one that contains a lot of antibodies.) Although not exactly a vaccine, antianthrax serums give immediate, but short-lived immunity, and are useful for both prompt protection and for treatment.

Inhalation: initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Death occurs in 80% to 90% of all cases, and usually occurs 1 - 2 days after the acute symptoms.

SYMPTOMS: Additional signs are cervical adenopathy edema, and fever. This form is very rare and the death rate is unknown.

The anthrax vaccine is intended for individuals who come in contact in the workplace, and for individuals who do diagnostic or investigative jobs which could bring them into contact with anthrax spores. The Department of Defense has realized the threat to our military troops, and have begun vaccination of all U.S. military personnel. Pregnant women should not be administered this vaccine, as it is not known whether the anthrax vaccine can cause fetal harm.

There have been no long term side effects reported from the vaccine.

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