Abstract

SALINAS, David. Anthrax: clinical investigation in the Peruvian Andes. An. Fac. med. [online]. 2004, vol.65, n.4, pp.231-238. ISSN 1025-5583.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of anthrax infection in patients from this town. Material and Methods: Twenty-nine suspect cases of cutaneous anthrax from Santiago de Chocorvos were studied. Cutaneous lesions had histopathology study in eleven patients with a clinical diagnosis of anthrax, along with Gram-stained smears study in six of these patients. Results: All patients presented a limited cutaneous infection. Disease started with a macule associated with itching or parestesia, that progressed to papule and ulcer. The bottom of the ulcer covered with a yellowish eschar that later became dark. An image that suggested B. anthracis was identified in a patient’s Gram stain smear. Conclusions: Anthrax is a disease that may occur at high altitude areas. Clinical characteristics of high altitude anthrax are similar to those described at the scientific literature.

Keywords : Anthrax; Peru, Huancavelica; altitude; Andean ecosystem.

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