INTESTINAL ANTHRAX Meaning and
Definition
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Intestinal anthrax is a serious and potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It is a rare form of anthrax that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. This form of anthrax occurs when spores of Bacillus anthracis are ingested, usually through the consumption of contaminated meat, particularly undercooked or raw meat from infected animals.
Once ingested, the spores travel to the intestines, where they germinate and produce toxins that cause damage to the intestinal tissue. Symptoms of intestinal anthrax may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and fever. In severe cases, complications such as bowel perforation, septicemia (blood infection), and organ failure can occur, posing a significant risk to the patient's health and potentially leading to death.
Prompt medical attention is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal anthrax. Laboratory tests may be conducted to confirm the presence of Bacillus anthracis in the patient's stool or blood samples. Treatment typically involves a combination of antibiotics aimed at eradicating the bacterial infection, such as ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, or penicillin. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to address complications like bowel perforation.
Prevention strategies for intestinal anthrax mainly revolve around proper cooking of meat, particularly when it comes from animals at risk of being infected with Bacillus anthracis. Additionally, public health measures, such as surveillance and control of animal anthrax cases, can help reduce the risk of transmission to humans.
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Gastroenteric a., a form of internal a. marked by chill, high fever, pain in the head, back, and extremities, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, great prostration, and frequently hemorrhages from the mucous membranes and in the skin (petechiae); the disease is usually fatal.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for INTESTINAL ANTHRAX
- untestinal anthrax
- jntestinal anthrax
- kntestinal anthrax
- ontestinal anthrax
- 9ntestinal anthrax
- 8ntestinal anthrax
- ibtestinal anthrax
- imtestinal anthrax
- ijtestinal anthrax
- ihtestinal anthrax
- inrestinal anthrax
- infestinal anthrax
- ingestinal anthrax
- inyestinal anthrax
- in6estinal anthrax
- in5estinal anthrax
- intwstinal anthrax
- intsstinal anthrax
- intdstinal anthrax
- intrstinal anthrax
Etymology of INTESTINAL ANTHRAX
The term "intestinal anthrax" is a medical term that describes a specific manifestation of the infectious disease anthrax.
The word "intestinal" comes from the Latin word "intestinus", which means "internal, inner". It refers to the intestines, which are part of the digestive system.
The word "anthrax" has a fascinating etymology. It comes from the Greek word "ánthrax", which means "coal" or "charcoal". This is due to the black eschar or coal-like lesion that forms on the skin in the cutaneous form of anthrax.
The Greek word "ánthrax" was borrowed into Latin as "anthrax", maintaining its meaning. It then entered various European languages and evolved over time to become "anthrax" in English.
