Anthrax Treatment

Anthrax treatment usually involves antibiotics and providing relief of symptoms and complications as the body fights the anthrax bacteria. If a diagnosis of anthrax is made early, treatment with antibiotics can be successful. Once the more severe symptoms begin to develop, the destructive toxins associated with the disease have already risen to high levels, which can make anthrax treatment difficult.

 

Anthrax Treatment: An Overview

Anthrax treatment typically involves antibiotics and providing relief of symptoms and complications (supportive care) as the body fights the anthrax bacteria.
 
If an anthrax diagnosis is made early, the disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, infected people often confuse early symptoms with more common infections, such as the flu or common cold, and do not seek medical help until severe anthrax symptoms appear. By that time, the destructive anthrax toxins have already risen to high levels, making anthrax treatment difficult. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria, but they have no effect on anthrax toxins.
 

Anthrax Treatment: Antibiotics

Antibiotics used for anthrax treatment in both adults and children include:
 
A doctor may prescribe a combination of these.
 
There are different types (strains) of the anthrax bacteria. Some strains may be naturally resistant to certain antibiotics and not others. In addition, there may be biologically-altered strains that are engineered to be resistant to various antibiotics. A laboratory analysis can help define which strain of anthrax is present and which antibiotic would be the most effective for anthrax treatment.
 
Also, as with all medicine, there are possible side effects that can occur with antibiotics used for anthrax treatment. Some of these side effects are more common in children. Risks of using doxycycline or ciprofloxacin to treat children must be weighed carefully against the risks anthrax presents.
 
(Anthrax Treatment Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD