Endemic gastrointestinal anthrax in 1960s Lebanon: clinical manifestations and surgical findings

Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 May;9(5):520-5. doi: 10.3201/eid0905.020537.

Abstract

Anthrax is an ancient disease caused by the gram-positive Bacillus anthracis; recently, it has gained much attention because of its potential use in biologic warfare. Anthrax infection occurs in three forms: cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal. The last type results from ingestion of poorly cooked contaminated meat. Intestinal anthrax was widely known in Lebanon in the 1960s, when a series of >100 cases were observed in the Bekaa Valley. We describe some of these cases, introduce the concept of the surgical management of advanced intestinal anthrax, and describe some of the approaches for treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anthrax / diagnosis*
  • Anthrax / drug therapy
  • Anthrax / epidemiology*
  • Anthrax / surgery
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacillus anthracis / isolation & purification
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / microbiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Lebanon / epidemiology
  • Lymph Nodes / microbiology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents