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What is Anthrax? Anthrax is caused by bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Upon exposure to air, anthrax forms a spore, which can become airborne to cause infection to exposed individuals. Anthrax spore can cause disease by coming in contact with abraded skin or wounds; inhalation; or ingestion. What are the effects of Anthrax? Pulmonary anthrax starts with inhalation of anthrax spores. After an incubation period of one to seven days, an exposed individual develops flu-like symptoms {malaise, fatigue, myalgia (body ache), fever and non-productive cough} that persist for two to three days. After a levelling of symptoms or improvement, severe respiratory distress with symptoms of dyspnea (difficulty breathing), stridor (grating sound on inspiration that is associated with upper respiratory obstruction), cyanosis (bluish colour in skin due to lack of O2 exchange due to lung damage), increased chest pain, tachycardia (excessively rapid heart rate) and diaphoresis (excessive sweating) develop. Fifty percent of victims will develop meningitis. Within twenty-four to thirty-six hours, the victim experiences the rapid onset of shock and subsequent death. Why Anthrax? The small quantity of anthrax needed for a lethal inhalation dose makes concealment, transportation, and dissemination very easy. An anthrax aerosol is odorless and invisible, making it a very stealthy killer. Only a millionth of a gram of anthrax is a lethal dose. A kilogram can eradicate hundreds of thousands of individuals living in a metropolitan area. Another characteristic making anthrax an effective biological agent, is that anthrax spores can be stored for decades without losing their viability. How effective is Cipro (Ciproxin)? Without treatment, Eighty percent of inhaled anthrax victims die within days. Cipro (Ciproxin) should be taken within hours of anthrax exposure. Once symptoms of anthrax appear, little can be done to help the patient. We don't know exactly how effective Cipro (Ciproxin) will be in the treatment of Anthrax. The FDA based seems to have approved this treatment largely on a study of monkeys, who suffer anthrax in almost the same way that people do. After inhaling anthrax, nine out of 10 untreated monkeys died and only one out of nine Cipro (Ciproxin)-treated monkeys died. How much Cipro (Ciproxin) should be prescribed? The current recommendation for Adults is 500mg of Cipro (Ciproxin) twice daily for 60 days after exposure to anthrax. Children would take a dosage depending upon body weight. |
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Ciproxin vs Anthrax
Cipro (Ciproxin) is approved to reduce the incidence or progression of inhalational anthrax following exposure to aerosolized Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax. Cipro (Ciproxin) has been approved for use by the FDA for individuals who have been exposed to inhaled anthrax. |
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