Anthrax & Joint Pain

Anthrax is a rare but dangerous and sometimes fatal disease. Anthrax is a bacteria that produces spores. People and animals can be infected with anthrax by being exposed to the spores.

History

• Anthrax does not naturally occur in humans. For humans to become infected with anthrax, they have to be purposely exposed to the bacteria. Previously only animals contracted anthrax, and the only humans who ever got it were those who worked regularly with animals. However, that was before animals began to be routinely vaccinated for anthrax.

Types of Infection

• Humans can contract anthrax by breathing in the spores, which will lie dormant in the body until they germinate; by eating food that is contaminated with the bacteria; or by the bacteria coming into contact with an open cut or wound on the skin.

Identifying Factors

• If you suspect that you may be contaminated with anthrax, the symptoms to look for begin with a painful, small red bump. Then the pain stops and it turns into a blister and the center of the blister turns black. You may come down with a fever, swollen lymph nodes and a headache. You may experience flulike symptoms. You may have stomach pains, vomiting (sometimes vomiting of blood), diarrhea (also sometimes bloody), runny nose, sore throat and difficulty swallowing.

  In many cases, joint pain also occurs. The joint pain from anthrax is not like any other joint pain. It usually comes on all of a sudden; there is no slow buildup over a long period. Nonstop pain can attack all of the joints in your body. It can attack your shoulder joints, hip joints and even the joints in your toes. You will notice this excruciating pain not long after you have been exposed to the anthrax virus. If you have been exposed to the virus, or you have come into contact with anyone else who has, and you experience sudden, almost unbearable pain in your joints, then it could be anthrax. Seek medical help immediately.

Prevention

• Being exposed to anthrax does not mean becoming infected with it. There are ways to prevent the infection. After you are exposed to the bacteria, you will be vaccinated. You will receive five vaccines over an 18-month period. Medicines can also prevent anthrax. If you have been exposed or it is believed that you have been exposed to the anthrax bacteria, then you may be given certain antibiotics for 60 days. This will prevent the infection from forming in your body.

Warnings

• Anthrax can be fatal. It is not just the flu or other mild illness. If you have anthrax and you are not treated, it very likely will lead to death. Even if you just think that you may have been exposed to anthrax, see your doctor immediately.