Three syndromes are recognized in man. The cutaneous form is usually seen in people who work with animal carcasses, wool, hides or fur. The infections are seen as large, local abscesses often on the hand or finger. These skin infections can spread to the blood stream and cause serious illness or death. Inhaling the bacteria causes the pulmonary form.
Most lung infections result in rapid death.
The intestinal form results from eating the bacteria and is seen as violent intestinal pain with vomiting and bloody stools. A high mortality rate is seen with the intestinal form of anthrax. For this reason, great care should be taken to protect anyone handling the carcass or live animals suspected to have anthrax. Meat obtained from animals dying of unknown causes, or suspected of having anthrax or another infectious disease, should not be consumed. In summary, anthrax is cause by bacteria that can exist in two forms.