Antibiotics
By far the most common treatment for anthrax is an antibiotic. As stated in the previous pages, since inhalation anthrax is caused by inhalation of the bacillius anthracis bacterium. Therefore, we can use antibiotics to help treat anthrax.
HOW ANTHRAX ANTIBIOTICS AFFECT THE CELLS AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
Anthrax antibiotics work in either 2 different ways: The first way affects the bacterium cell by just outright hunting and killing the anthrax The second way antibiotics work is by preventing the bacterium cell from growing, and when the anthrax can't grow, it dies on its own. It affects the respiratory system by ensuring that no toxins can build up in it, and thereby making sure it keeps working.
There are several antibiotics that are usually used to treat/prevent anthrax. For people that are not yet exhibiting symptoms, or to prevent further anthrax growth in those who are, there are two main antibiotics used: Doxycycline and ciprofloxacin. Both of them provide an equal amount of safety against anthrax. While anthrax spores usually take at maximum a week to activate and release toxins, some of them can remain active for up to sixty days. Consequently, one must take either of these antibiotics for that much time.
A patient benefits from antibiotic treatment in 2 ways: One, it can prevent onset of symptoms and complications due to anthrax in the first place, thereby preventing any suffering in the first place. However, if a patient is already afflicted, it can also prevent those symptoms from becoming more severe by preventing the bacteria from growing further.
However, there are also side effects present with antibiotics suitable for anthrax. Some of these include (but are not limited to):
Doxycycline:
Upset Stomach/Stomach Disruption
Rash on skin exposed to the sun
Inflammation of the oesophagus (tube where food goes down) when not taken with enough fluid.
Ciprofloxacin:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hallucinations
Rash
Tendon Rupture
Note: Some side effects of ciprofloxacin may be permanent.
