Anthrax Prognosis

An anthrax prognosis is an informed medical opinion concerning the likely course and outcome of the disease, or the chance that a patient will recover. The anthrax prognosis will depend on a number of factors, including the type of anthrax, how early the anthrax is diagnosed, the strain of anthrax bacteria, and the patient's age and general health. Treating the anthrax early improves the anthrax prognosis.

Anthrax Prognosis Images
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Anthrax lesion on the skin of the forearm caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
This image shows cutaneous anthrax on the neck.
This image on eMedTV shows bacillus anthracis (the bacteria that cause anthrax) under a hih powered microscope.
This image on eMedTV is of a chest x-ray of a 46 year old male with pulmonary anthrax. This person worked in a goat hair processing mill. The x-ray shows pulmonary effusion on both sides, and a widened mediastinum, which are classic of pulmonary anthrax.
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Anthrax Prognosis: An Overview

A prognosis is a medical opinion as to the likely course and outcome of a disease, or the chance that a patient will recover. Many factors affect a person's prognosis.
 
When doctors consider a person's prognosis, they carefully assess all of the factors that could affect that person's disease and treatment, and then try to predict what might happen. The doctor bases the anthrax prognosis on information that researchers have collected over many years. When possible, the doctor uses statistics based on groups of people whose situations are most similar to that of an individual patient.
 
The doctor may speak of a favorable anthrax prognosis if the condition is likely to respond well to anthrax treatment. The anthrax prognosis may be unfavorable if the anthrax is likely to be difficult to control. It is important to keep in mind, however, that a prognosis is only a prediction. The doctor cannot be absolutely certain about the outcome for a particular patient.
 

Factors Influencing an Anthrax Prognosis

The anthrax prognosis will depend on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The type of anthrax (see Types of Anthrax)
  • How early the anthrax is diagnosed
  • The strain of anthrax bacteria (Bacillus anthracis)
  • The patient's age and general health.
     
Early anthrax treatment for all anthrax types improves the anthrax prognosis.
 

Cutaneous Anthrax Prognosis

Cutaneous anthrax is usually cured with anthrax treatment. The cutaneous anthrax death rate is 20 percent without antibiotic treatment and less than 1 percent with it.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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