An inhalational variant is the most common and deadly form of the disease. All patients were treated by penicillin or other antibiotics. 78 cases having massive oedema were additionally treated with cortisone. The death rate was slightly higher in females when compared with males. The spore form of this organism can survive in the environment for many decades.
Anthrax is a very rare disease in the United Kingdom.
It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Humans become infected when they come into contact with infected animals or their products. We present a patient who developed cutaneous disease after exposure to untreated leather. Owing to the initial clinical information, the biopsy specimen was misinterpreted as representing a severe acute insect bite reaction. The subsequent involvement by the Department of Microbiology established the correct diagnosis.