National case definition: Anthrax
Date of last revision/review: May 2008
National notification
Confirmed, probable and suspect cases of disease should be notified.
Type of surveillance
Routine case-by-case notification to the federal level
Case classification
Confirmed case
Clinical illness with laboratory confirmation of infection:
- Isolation of Bacillus anthracis in a clinical specimen
or - Demonstration of B. anthracis in a clinical specimen by immunofluorescence
Probable case
Suspected case with detection of B. anthracis DNA
Suspect case
Clinical illness in a person who is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected animal case or contaminated animal product
Clinical evidence
Cutaneous: Clinical illness is characterized by the appearance of small, painless but often pruritic papules. As the papule enlarges, it becomes vesicular and, within two days, ulcerates to form a distinctive black eschar, with surrounding edema.
Inhalation: Clinical illness is characterized by an upper-respiratory flu-like syndrome that, after a few days, takes a fulminant course, manifested by dyspnea, cough, chills and a high-grade bacteremia.
Gastrointestinal: Clinical illness is characterized by abdominal pain, fever and signs of septicaemia.
ICD code(s)
ICD-10 code(s)
- A 22
ICD 9 code(s)
- O22
References
Wilson RW, Sande MA. Current Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2001.
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