Anthrax is an acute disease suffered by both animals and humans. It is caused by Bacillus anthracis and it has high mortality. People can be infected by direct or indirect contact with sick animals. Person-to-person transmission is rare. After a person is infected, symptoms include skin pustules, coughing, sputum, breathing difficulties, spleen swelling, and other symptoms. Treatment principle for anthrax is strict isolation, early diagnosis, early treatment and killing the bacteria inside the body. Drug treatment is high dose of oral and intravenous antibiotics. For pulmonary anthrax, antibiotics should be given 24 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Drug-resistant bacteria strains have been found.
How is Cutaneous anthrax treated in practice?