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File: 123096_sep96_decls23_0043.txt
Subject: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF IMPORTANCE
Unit: OTSG
Parent Organization: HSC
Box ID: BX003203
Folder Title: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES 1991PORTABLE FIELD PERSONNEL SHOWER SYSTEMS
Document Number: 1
Folder Seq #: 88
procedures, but sporulation of bacilli exposm to zdr will occur over time, posing a
subsequent theoretical risk with inhalation. On the other hand, vegetative forms of plague SECTION H
and tularemia bacilli may be dangerous, since, under some circumstances, they are known to SPECMC THREAT AGENTS
muse aerosol infections. Therefore, postmortem examinations of suspected anthrax, plague,
and tularemia victims should be performed with strict mask, gown, and glove precautions
because of the large numbers of organisms present in body fluids. ANTHRAX
pnvbylaxis : All medical prophylactic modalities described should be A: CLUOCAL SYNDROME
viewed only as secondary (i.e., backup), and are not to be relied upon as primary protective
measures. Agent exposures near the source of dissemination will be high, and likely to Anthrax is a zwnotic disease mused by Bacillus anthracia. Under natural conditions,
overwhelm any medical protective measure. The precise efficacy of available medical
countermeasures has, of course, never been evaluated in acma field circumstances, but is humans become infected by contact with infected animals or contaminated mima) products.
largely infeffed from laboratory studies on nonhuman primates. While these extrapolations Human anthrax usually is manifested by cutaneous lesions. A biological warfare
an
extmordinamy rare form of the naturally occurring disease.
Clinical Features: The disease begins after an incubation period varying from 1-6
days, presumably dependent upon the dose of inhaled organisms. Onset is gradual and
nonspecific, with fever, malaise, and fatigue, sometimes in association with a nonproductive
cough and mild chest discomfort. In some cases, there may be a short period Of
improvement. The initial symptoms are followed in 2-3 days by the abrupt development of
severe respiratory distress with dyspnm, diaphoresis, stridor, and cyanosis. Physical
findings may include evidence of pleural effusions, edema of the chest wall, and meningitis.
Chest X my reveals a dramatically widened medintinum, often with pleural effusions, but
ath usually follow within 24-36 hours of
respiratory distress onset.
B: DUGNOSIS
F ndjn : Laboratory evaluation will reveal a neutrophilic
leukocytosis. When pleural effusions and evidence of meningitis are present, pleural and
cerebrospinal fluids may be hemorrhagic.
n i Di An epidemic of inhalation anthrax in its early stage with
nonspecific symptoms could be confused with a wide variety of viral, bacteria], and fungal
infectious diseases. Pmgr@sion over 2-3 days with the sudden development of severe
respiratory distress followed by shock and death in 24-36 hours in essentially all untreated
cases eliminates diagnoses other than inhalation anthrax. The presence of a widened
mediasonum on chest X ray, in particular, should alert one to the diagnosis. Other
suggestive findings include chest- wall edema, hemorrhagic pleural effusions, and
hemorrhagic meningitis. Other diagnoses to consider include aerosol exposure to SEB; but
in this case, onset would be more rapid after exposure (if known), and no prodrome would
be evident prior to onset of severe respiratory symptoms. Mediasdnal widening on chest X
7 1
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Document 52 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES 1991PORTABLE FIELD PERSONNEL SHOWER SYSTEMS/diagnosis and treatment of diseases of importanc:12179609281524
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES 1991PORTABLE FIELD PERSONNEL SHOWER SYSTEMS
Folder Seq # = 88
Subject = DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF IMPORTANC
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996