Clinical Features of Inhalational Anthrax

1
Clinical Features of Inhalational Anthrax

• Biphasic Illness
• Nonspecific Symptoms (flulike)
• Acute Symptoms in 3-5 days
• Mediastinal Widening
• Lymphadenopathy
• Hemorrhagic Lymphadenitis
• Pleural Effusions
• Septicemic or Toxemic Shock

2
Patient 1 Prodromal Phase
Nausea, abdominal pain Worsening symptoms Labs
leukocytosis, hemoconcentration X-ray right
lung, increased density
Day 1 Day 6
3
Patient 1 Acute/Fulminant Phase
Respiratory distress decreased breath sounds at
bases diffuse wheezes and rhonchi Regular
tachycardia Abdominal tenderness Small-bowel
intramural pneumatosis Widened mediastinum Pleural
effusions Death due to cardiac complications
Day 7 5AM 10AM
4
Progressive Mediastinal Widening
5
Pleural Effusions, Mediastinitis
Chest CT with Intravenous Contrast