Anthrax is a deadly infectious disease that may be transmitted to humans by infected animals or by biological warfare. There are three types of anthrax: cutaneous, inhalation, and gastrointestinal. Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax include a swollen glands, muscle ache, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and a red-brown raised spot that enlarges, blisters, and hardens, forming an ulcer crater with black crust. Symptoms of inhalation anthrax are flu-like and may progress to respiratory distress, shock, coma, and death. Symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax include loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Treatment for cutaneous anthrax involves penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxin. Inhalation anthrax necessitates treatment with IV therapy with antibiotics. Read more: Anthrax Article
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Bacterial Infections 101: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
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Headache
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
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Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is common, but can also be life threatening. The symptoms for food poisoning are fever, abdominal pain, headache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Food poisoning has many causes, for example, chemicals (from toxic fish or plants) and bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella). Treatment of food poisoning depends upon the cause.
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What Causes Abdominal Pain?
Abdominal pain can have many causes that range from mild to severe. Some of these causes include bloating, gas, colitis, endometriosis, food poisoning, GERD, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ovarian cysts, abdominal adhesions, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gallbladder disease, liver disease, and cancers. Signs and symptoms of the more serious causes include dehydration, bloody or black tarry stools, severe abdominal pain, pain with no urination or painful urination. Treatment for abdominal pain depends upon the cause.
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Fever in Adults and Children
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 F (37 C), in practice, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal; rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease-producing organisms.
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Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Shock (Medical)
Medical shock is a life-threatening medical condition. There are several types of medical shock, including: septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock. Causes of shock include: heart attack, heart failure, heavy bleeding (internal and external), infection, anaphylaxis, spinal cord injury, severe burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea. Low blood pressure is the key sign of sock. Treatment is dependant upon the type of shock.
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Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. There are numerous cases of nausea and vomiting. Some causes may not require medical treatment, for example, motion sickness, and other causes may require medical treatment by a doctor, for example, heart attack, lung infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Some causes of nausea and vomiting may be life-threatening, for example, heart attack, abdominal obstruction, and cancers. Treatment of nausea and vomiting depends upon the cause.
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Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is a form of terrorism where there is the intentional release of biological agents such as viruses, germs, or bacteria. Diseases caused by bioterrorism agents include anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia, brucellosis, food poisoning, Q fever, ricin toxin poisoning, cholera, epidemic typhus, viral encephalitis, XDR TB, and MDR TB.
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First Aid
First aid is providing medical assistance to someone a sick or injured person. The type of first aid depends on their condition. Preparedness is key to first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Many minor injuries may require first aid, including cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, and nosebleeds. Examples of more critical first aid emergencies include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heatstroke.
Treatment & Diagnosis
- Abdominal Pain
- Loss of Appetite
- Nausea
- Bumps on Skin
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Swollen Lymph Nodes (Lymphadenopathy)
- Fever
- Blisters
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- How to Choose a Doctor
- Anthrax
- Doctor: Checklist to Take To Your Doctor's Appointment
- Doctor: Getting the Most from Your Doctor's Appointment
- Anthrax and Beyond: Potential Bioterror Agents
Medications & Supplements
- Penicillin (Antibiotics)
- erythromycin (Ery-Tab, PCE)
- Levaquin (levofloxacin) Antibiotic
- Cipro vs. Flagyl
- Cipro, Cipro XR (ciprofloxacin) Antibiotic Side Effects
- Amoxicillin vs. Levaquin
- Cipro vs. Levaquin: Differences Between Side Effects, Uses, and Strength
- Cipro, XR (ciprofloxacin) vs. Keflex (cephalexin)
- Levaquin (levofloxacin) Side Effects, Warnings, and Drug Interactions
- doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx)
- Nitrofurantoin vs. Ciprofloxacin
- Doxycycline vs. Levaquin
- levofloxacin (Levaquin) Side Effects and Adverse Effects
- tetracycline (Sumycin)
- Raxibacumab for Anthrax
Prevention & Wellness
- Gas Explosion at Russian Lab Stockpiling Smallpox, Anthrax, Ebola
- Anthrax Is a Risk on Every Continent
- FDA Bolsters Warnings About Class of Antibiotics
- Anthrax Vaccine Shows Promise in Monkey Trial
- Inhalation Anthrax Treatment Approved
- Anthrax Vaccine Approval Expanded
- New Treatment for Anthrax Approved
- CDC Issues Tough Report on Anthrax Scare
- No CDC Lab Workers Seem Sickened by Anthrax: Report
- CDC Lab Workers May Have Been Exposed to Anthrax
- Pediatricians Should Plan for Anthrax Attack, U.S. Experts Say
- Raxibacumab Approved for Inhalational Anthrax
- Vulnerability to Anthrax Varies Widely: Study
- U.S. Advisers Explain Request to Censor Bird Flu Research
- Anthrax Vaccine Shows Promise in Monkeys
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