There are four common routes of anthrax infection, each with different signs and symptoms. In most cases, symptoms develop within six days of exposure to the bacteria. However, it's possible for inhalation anthrax symptoms to take more than six weeks to appear. Cutaneous anthrax            Cutaneous anthrax       Open pop-up dialog box          Close    Cutaneous anthrax   Cutaneous anthrax You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center.               Cutaneous anthrax       Open pop-up dialog box           Cutaneous anthrax       Open pop-up dialog box  Open pop-up dialog box       Close    Cutaneous anthrax   Cutaneous anthrax You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center.          Close    Cutaneous anthrax   Cutaneous anthrax You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center.        Close    Cutaneous anthrax   Cutaneous anthrax You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center.     Close    Close  Close Cutaneous anthrax   Cutaneous anthrax You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center.  Cutaneous anthrax You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center. You can contract anthrax when spores penetrate your skin, usually through an open wound. The infection begins as a raised, sometimes itchy, bump resembling an insect bite. But within a day or two, the bump develops into an open, usually painless sore with a black center. A skin-related (cutaneous) anthrax infection enters your body through your skin, usually through a cut or other sore. It's by far the most common route of the disease. It's also the mildest. With appropriate treatment, cutaneous anthrax is seldom fatal. Signs and symptoms include:  A raised, itchy bump resembling an insect bite that quickly develops into a painless sore with a black center Swelling in the sore and nearby lymph glands Sometimes, flu-like symptoms including fever and headache  Gastrointestinal anthrax A gastrointestinal anthrax infection results from eating undercooked meat from an infected animal. It can affect your gastrointestinal tract from your throat to your colon. Signs and symptoms include:  Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Headache Loss of appetite Fever Severe, bloody diarrhea in the later stages of the disease Sore throat and difficulty swallowing Swollen neck  Inhalation anthrax            Inhalation anthrax       Open pop-up dialog box          Close    Inhalation anthrax   Inhalation anthrax This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body.               Inhalation anthrax       Open pop-up dialog box           Inhalation anthrax       Open pop-up dialog box  Open pop-up dialog box       Close    Inhalation anthrax   Inhalation anthrax This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body.          Close    Inhalation anthrax   Inhalation anthrax This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body.        Close    Inhalation anthrax   Inhalation anthrax This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body.     Close    Close  Close Inhalation anthrax   Inhalation anthrax This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body.  Inhalation anthrax This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body. This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body. Inhalation anthrax develops when you breathe in anthrax spores. It's the most deadly form of the disease, and is often fatal, even with treatment. Initial signs and symptoms include:  Flu-like symptoms for a few hours or days, such as sore throat, mild fever, fatigue and muscle aches Mild chest discomfort Shortness of breath Nausea Coughing up blood Painful swallowing High fever Trouble breathing Shock — an acute medical condition involving collapse of the circulatory system Meningitis  Injection anthrax This recently identified route of anthrax infection has so far been reported only in Europe. It's contracted through injecting illegal drugs. Initial signs and symptoms include:  Redness at the area of injection (without an area that changes to black) Significant swelling Shock Multiple organ failure Meningitis 
common routes anthrax infection  signs symptoms  cases  symptoms develop days exposure bacteria  however  it's possible inhalation anthrax symptoms take weeks appear  cutaneous anthrax            cutaneous anthrax       open pop-up dialog box          close    cutaneous anthrax   cutaneous anthrax can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center                cutaneous anthrax       open pop-up dialog box           cutaneous anthrax       open pop-up dialog box  open pop-up dialog box       close    cutaneous anthrax   cutaneous anthrax can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center           close    cutaneous anthrax   cutaneous anthrax can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center         close    cutaneous anthrax   cutaneous anthrax can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center      close    close  close cutaneous anthrax   cutaneous anthrax can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center   cutaneous anthrax can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center  can contract anthrax spores penetrate skin  open wound  infection begins raised  itchy  bump resembling insect bite  day two  bump develops open  painless sore black center  skin-related (cutaneous) anthrax infection enters body skin  cut sore  it's far common route disease  it's mildest  treatment  cutaneous anthrax seldom fatal  signs symptoms include:  raised  itchy bump resembling insect bite quickly develops painless sore black center swelling sore nearby lymph glands sometimes  flu-like symptoms including fever headache  gastrointestinal anthrax gastrointestinal anthrax infection results eating undercooked meat infected animal  can affect gastrointestinal tract throat colon  signs symptoms include:  nausea vomiting abdominal pain headache loss appetite fever severe  bloody diarrhea later stages disease sore throat difficulty swallowing swollen neck  inhalation anthrax            inhalation anthrax       open pop-up dialog box          close    inhalation anthrax   inhalation anthrax illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body                inhalation anthrax       open pop-up dialog box           inhalation anthrax       open pop-up dialog box  open pop-up dialog box       close    inhalation anthrax   inhalation anthrax illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body           close    inhalation anthrax   inhalation anthrax illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body         close    inhalation anthrax   inhalation anthrax illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body      close    close  close inhalation anthrax   inhalation anthrax illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body   inhalation anthrax illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body  illustration shows spores cause inhalation anthrax — deadly form anthrax infection — enter affect body  inhalation anthrax develops breathe anthrax spores  it's deadly form disease  fatal  treatment  initial signs symptoms include:  flu-like symptoms hours days  sore throat  mild fever  fatigue muscle aches mild chest discomfort shortness breath nausea coughing blood painful swallowing high fever trouble breathing shock — acute medical condition involving collapse circulatory system meningitis  injection anthrax recently identified route anthrax infection far reported only europe  it's contracted injecting illegal drugs  initial signs symptoms include:  redness area injection (without area changes black) significant swelling shock multiple organ failure meningitis 
anthrax