Biomaterial Database

Anthrax, tularemia, plague, ebola or smallpox as agents of bioterrorism: recognition in the emergency room. 2002

B A Cunha

Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola and State University of New York School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York 11501, USA.

Bioterrorism has become a potential diagnostic consideration in infectious diseases. This article reviews the clinical presentation and differential diagnosis of potential bioterrorist agents when first presenting to the hospital in the emergency room setting. The characteristic clinical features of inhalation anthrax, tularemic pneumonia, plague pneumonia, including laboratory and radiographic finding, are discussed. Ebola vieus and smallpox are also discussed as potential bioterrorist-transmitted infections from the clinical and epidemiologic standpoint. In addition to the clinical features of the infectious diseases mentioned, the article discusses the infectious disease control and epidemiologic implications of these agents when employed as bioterrorist agents. The review concludes with suggestions for postexposure prophylaxis and therapy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010930	Plague	An acute infectious disease caused by YERSINIA PESTIS that affects humans, wild rodents, and their ectoparasites. This condition persists due to its firm entrenchment in sylvatic rodent-flea ecosystems throughout the world. Bubonic plague is the most common form.	Bubonic Plague,Meningeal Plague,Pneumonic Plague,Pulmonic Plague,Black Death,Black Plague,Septicemic Plague,Yersinia pestis Infection
D004636	Emergency Service, Hospital	Hospital department responsible for the administration and provision of immediate medical or surgical care to the emergency patient.	Emergency Outpatient Unit,Emergency Services Utilization,Hospital Emergency Room,Hospital Emergency Service,Hospital Emergency Services Utilization,Accident and Emergency Department,Emergency Departments,Emergency Hospital Service,Emergency Room,Emergency Units,Emergency Ward,Hospital Service Emergency,Service, Hospital Emergency,Department, Emergency,Departments, Emergency,Emergencies, Hospital Service,Emergency Department,Emergency Hospital Services,Emergency Outpatient Units,Emergency Room, Hospital,Emergency Rooms,Emergency Rooms, Hospital,Emergency Services, Hospital,Emergency Unit,Emergency Wards,Emergency, Hospital Service,Hospital Emergency Rooms,Hospital Emergency Services,Hospital Service Emergencies,Hospital Service, Emergency,Hospital Services, Emergency,Outpatient Unit, Emergency,Outpatient Units, Emergency,Room, Emergency,Room, Hospital Emergency,Rooms, Emergency,Rooms, Hospital Emergency,Service Emergencies, Hospital,Service Emergency, Hospital,Service, Emergency Hospital,Services Utilization, Emergency,Services Utilizations, Emergency,Services, Emergency Hospital,Services, Hospital Emergency,Unit, Emergency,Unit, Emergency Outpatient,Units, Emergency,Units, Emergency Outpatient,Utilization, Emergency Services,Ward, Emergency,Wards, Emergency
D006482	Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral	A group of viral diseases of diverse etiology but having many similar clinical characteristics; increased capillary permeability, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia are common to all. Hemorrhagic fevers are characterized by sudden onset, fever, headache, generalized myalgia, backache, conjunctivitis, and severe prostration, followed by various hemorrhagic symptoms. Hemorrhagic fever with kidney involvement is HEMORRHAGIC FEVER WITH RENAL SYNDROME.	Fever, Viral Hemorrhagic,Fevers, Viral Hemorrhagic,Hemorrhagic Fever, Viral,Viral Hemorrhagic Fever,Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000881	Anthrax	An acute infection caused by the spore-forming bacteria BACILLUS ANTHRACIS. It commonly affects hoofed animals such as sheep and goats. Infection in humans often involves the skin (cutaneous anthrax), the lungs (inhalation anthrax), or the gastrointestinal tract. Anthrax is not contagious and can be treated with antibiotics.	Bacillus anthracis Infection,Bacillus anthracis Infections
D000890	Anti-Infective Agents	Substances that prevent infectious agents or organisms from spreading or kill infectious agents in order to prevent the spread of infection.	Anti-Infective Agent,Anti-Microbial Agent,Antimicrobial Agent,Microbicide,Microbicides,Anti-Microbial Agents,Antiinfective Agents,Antimicrobial Agents,Agent, Anti-Infective,Agent, Anti-Microbial,Agent, Antimicrobial,Agents, Anti-Infective,Agents, Anti-Microbial,Agents, Antiinfective,Agents, Antimicrobial,Anti Infective Agent,Anti Infective Agents,Anti Microbial Agent,Anti Microbial Agents
D012899	Smallpox	An acute, highly contagious, often fatal infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus characterized by a biphasic febrile course and distinctive progressive skin eruptions. Vaccination has succeeded in eradicating smallpox worldwide. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Alastrim,Variola,Variola Minor,Minor, Variola,Minors, Variola,Variola Minors,Variolas
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014406	Tularemia	A plague-like disease of rodents, transmissible to man. It is caused by FRANCISELLA TULARENSIS and is characterized by fever, chills, headache, backache, and weakness.	Francisella tularensis Infection,Francisella tularensis Infections,Infection, Francisella tularensis,Tularemias
D023482	Bioterrorism	The use of biological agents in TERRORISM. This includes the malevolent use of BACTERIA; VIRUSES; or other BIOLOGICAL TOXINS against people, ANIMALS; or PLANTS.	Biocrime,Biological Terrorism,Biocrimes,Terrorism, Biological