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DETAILS

Anthrax is a disease of domestic animals where domestic animals get infected first by bacillus anthraces and this disease then spreads in humans by inhaling and ingesting spores of bacilliusanthracis.

This disease is mainly found in farmers, butchers and dealers in hides. Inoculation of spores is usually subcutaneously. The incubation period of the disease is 1-3 days. The symptoms described in modern medicine are as follows.

Clinical features

• Sub cutaneous - cutaneous lesion formation as itching, papule, which enlarges and forms a vesicle filled with sero-sanguineous fluid surrounded by gross edema. The legion is painless accompanied by slight enlargement of regional lymph nodes. The vesicle dries to form a thick Escher surrounded by blebs. It is accompanied by symptoms of fever, toxemia and fatal septicemia.

• Ingestion - Ulcer with surrounding edema develops in pharynx and gastro-enteritis on ingestion of meat of infected cattle.

• Inhalation - Symptoms of acute laryngitis, virulent hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia, meningitis, i.e. fever, headache, cough dyspnoea, chest pain develops on inhalation of spores.

After going through the description of this deadly disease given in modern medicine, a question arises whether our ancestors knew about this disease, have they described a similar disease in their classical texts. To find a solution to this disease we shift our attention to ‘Ayurveda’ the ‘Indian system of traditional medicine’. We come across a lot of references in classical Ayurvedic texts which can be compared to ‘Anthrax.’

In charak Samhita a chapter called ‘ Janopadhodhwansa’ (chapter on epidemics) is dedicated to diseases causing epidemics. It says that when air, water, country and time get polluted, they cause diseases in animals. The root cause of an epidemic is unreligious behavior like engaging in war. War leads to use of chemical and biological weapons, which pollute the atmosphere and cause diseases in man.

A reference on infectious diseases is also found in ‘Ayurveda’. The cause for infectious diseases (AgantukRoga ) is given as microscopic organisms (bhutas), cutaneous contact, and polluted air. According to Sushrut Samhita (Su/slutra/24/7) infection spreads by contact with infected persons and articles. Charak Samhita says that infectious disease develops in man due to ingestion of decayed and infected meat. Charak Samhita that disease-causing microbes are so minute that they cannot be seen by naked eye, are round and usually found in blood.

The symptoms found in Anthrax infection can be compared to the various symptoms found in the ‘imbalance of strotasas’ (Strotodushti).

In Pranwahastrotas imbalance, symptoms like prolonged inhalation, dyspnoea, pain while inhalation creeps, ronchi on inhalation, can be compared to the symptoms in broncho-pneumonia, which occurs in pulmonary anthrax.

In Raktawahastrotas imbalance, eating stale purified food is given as the main causes for pustules and skin diseases.

In Mansawahastrotas imbalance, heavy and not easily digestible food ingestion is given as the main reason for development of mansawahastrotas diseases. Laryngitis, Tonsillitis, enlargement of cervical lymph nodes can be cited as the diseases caused by imbalance of mansawahastrotas.

Manifestation of fever due to ingestion of heavy and indigestible food is given as the major disease of Rasawahastrotas.

A reference in ‘Bhel Samhita’ describes that cows and buffalos get infected with a special type of disease, which affects their legs and throats ultimately leading to their death. The microbes of these diseases enter humans causing the same disease in them. This can be compared to Anthrax.

Other comparable references are given below

• AbhishangajJwar - (Su/uttar/39/38)

AbhishangajJwar is caused by minute living organisms which are called ‘bhutas’ because they are invisible to the naked eye.

• VisheshSannipatajJwar - (Su/uttar/39)

Dryness of throat, difficulty in speaking, Dyspnoea, anorexia are the symptoms of VisheshSannipatajJwar comparable to pulmonary anthrax.

• SannipatajJwar - (Charak/chikitsa-3/90-94)

Charak has described a type of ‘AsadhyaSannipatajJwar’ which has symptoms similar to anthrax. It is described as incurable and death causing. The symptoms are pain in the throat, cough, dyspnoea, chest pain and fever.

• AsadhyaJwar - (MadhavNidan /JwarNidan/72)

MadhavNidan also describes a disease called AsadhyaJwar similar to anthrax. The symptoms are described as unconsciousness, watering of eyes, dyspnoea, hiccough, and thirst which are comparable to Anthrax.

TREATEMENT-(According to Ayurveda)-

SanjeevaniVati,

Mahamrutyunjaya Rasa,

Arogyawardhini, along with Amritarishta can be given as natural antibiotic drugs supporting the modern drug therapy. These Ayurvedic drugs act as immune system boosters, can be useful to improve the immune system and also as preventive medicine.

Herbs like

Tulsi (Oscimum Sanctum),

Neem (Azadarichtaindica),

Punarnava (Boerhavadiffusa),

Amrita (Tinosporacordifolia), and

Harida (Currucuma longa) act as natural anti-microbial agents and can be used in combination.

Preventive Measures

Vaccination against Anthrax is an important preventive measure. According to Ayurveda to refresh the atmosphere and reduce air-borne infection Guggul (CommiphoraMukul) and Ral (Raisins) should be burnt. The above mentioned Ayurvedic herbs act as ‘Rakshoghna’ i.e. protecting against the ‘bhutas’ (micro-organisms). The fumes of these herbs kill the microbes present in the air thereby purifying the atmosphere. 

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ANTHREX

Definition: anthrax is an infection that is caused by Bacillus anthracis. It mainly affects

herbivorous animals but humans are infected by contact with the causative agent from infected animals, by contact, ingestion or inhalation.

Etiology: Bacillus anthracis is a large, aerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive rod, which is

encapsulated and non-motile.

Epidemiology: Anthrax is more common in herbivorous animals like cattle, sheep and goats.They are infected while grazing on contaminated grass. Humans may acquire anthrax from agricultural sites through contact with animals like butchering and feeding or industrial sites through exposure to contaminated hides, wool or bones.

INCUBATION PERIOD- 1-7 DAYS

Pathogenesis:

• Cutaneous anthrax is initiated when spores of B. anthracis are introduced through

abrasions of the skin or insect bite.

• Inhalation anthrax is acquired by directly inhaling the agent to the alveoli.

• Gastrointestinal form usually occurs after ingestion of raw or partially cooked meat that is contaminated.

B. anthracis goes to the blood stream and replicates rapidly. It is resistant to phagocytosis. It also produces anthrax toxin, which causes edema and inhibition of polymorphonuclear leucocyte function. Moreover, it causes release of cytokines, shock and death.

Clinical Manifestations

About 95% of anthrax is cutaneous form. 5% is inhalation, and that of gastrointestinal (GI) is very rare. GI form is more common in areas where raw meat is ingested.

Cutaneous anthrax:

• The lesions are more common on exposed areas like face, neck and extremities.

• In the beginning, a small red macule develops within days. This will become papular

and pustular which then forms a central necrotic ulcer (black eshcar) with surrounding

edema; it is painless.

• Usually there is associated painful regional lymphadenopathy and fever is uncommon.

• Most patients recover spontaneously but about 10% develop progressive infection,

bacteremia, high grade fever and rapid death.

Inhalational anthrax (wool sorter’s disease):

• This form resembles severe viral respiratory disease and thus diagnosis is difficult.

• This form may be used as biological warfare.

• Within 3 days of infection patients develop fever, dyspnea, stridor, hypoxemia,

hypotension and may die within 24 hours once patients become symptomatic.

Gastrointestinal anthrax: Patients may have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody

diarrhea, and fever; they may develop ascites.

Treatment(In modern medicine)-

Anthrax patients are treated by giving antibiotics like penicillin, Tetracycline and ciprofloxacin

Cutaneous anthrax

• Can be treated with crystalline penicillin 2 million units 6 hourly until edema subsides

then oral penicillin for 7-10 days.

• For allergic patients, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, TTC or chloramphenicol may be given.

• Wound should be cleaned, debrided and dressed.

Inhalation or GI form

• Should be treated with high dose penicillin 8-12 million units per day, divided into 4-6

doses.

Mortality rate

• Cutaneous Anthrax is 10-20%, for and almost.

• GI Anthrax can 50%

• Inhalational anthrax 100% for

Prevention:

• Mass vaccination of animals

• Avoiding feeding on infected cattle

• Proper disposal of dead animals and

• Keeping personal hygiene.

PATHYA-

- Purana Sali, Mudga, Masoor, Parval, Karela, Sahijan, Choulai, Gaduchi, Jeevanti, Makoya, Manukka, Anar, Laghu Ahar, Yavagu, Peya, Vilepi, Yava, Lajamanda, Daliya

APATHYA-

- Guru, vidahi, vistambhi, dushita jala sevana, ankurita anna, tilkuta, sweet, chole, lassi, chana dal

- Vegadharana, vyayama, divasvapna, sanana, adhyasana

NISHEDHJA-

- Nava jvar me divasvapna, snana, abhyanga, maithuna, krodha, dhimi hava   

RASODHI/BHASMA/PISTI-(120-250MG WITH MADHU/USHNODAKA)

- Tribhuvan kirti rasa-(hingula,vatsanabh,trikatu,tankan)

- Hinguleshver rasa-(vatsanabh,pippali,hungula)

- Swarnbasant malti rasa-(swarna,muktapisti,hingula,maricha)

- Kasturi bhairav rasa-(javitri,jayphala,marich,pippali,kasturi)

- Mritunjaya rasa-(vatsanabh,hingula,gandhak,tankan,pippali,marich)

- Jwar keshri rasa-(parad,gandhak,triphala,trikatu,vatsanabh,jayphaala)

- Jwar sanhar rasa-(rasasindura,trikatu,kuth,mustak,tankan,katuki)

- Godanti bhasma-(godanti)

- Shringa bhasma-(mrigshringa)

- Jaharmora pisti-(jaharmohra)

- Laxmivilas rasa-(swarn,rajat,abhrak,tamra,nagabhasma)

- Praval pisti

- Kaphaketu rasa-(vatsanabh,tankan,sankh,pippali)

VATI-(250-500MG WITH USHNA JALA)

- Sanjeevani vati-(vidang,nagar,pippali,abhaya,vibhitaki,vacha,guduchi,bhallataka,visha)

- Shoubhagya vati-(rasasindura,dvikshar,trilavan,loha,trikatu,triphala)

- Sansamani vati-(guduchi)

- Vishatindukadi vati-(kuchala,mustak,parpat,triphala)

- Jayavati-(suddha visha,trikatu,motha,haridra,nimbapatra,bidanga)

- Amrita satva-(guduchi)

- Karanjadi vati-(karanj beej,parpat,atish,guduchi,patol,kutki)

CURNA-(3-6GM WITH MADHU/USHNODAKA)

- Sudarshan curna-(triphala,trimada,atish,chirayata)

- Panchkol curna-(pippali,pippalimula,chavya,chitrak,sunthi)

- Sitophaladi curna-(dalchini,ela,pippali,vanshlochan,mishri)

- Talisadi curna-(talisa,marich,sunthi,pippali,vanshlochan,mishri)

- Lavangadi curna-(lavanga,sheetal chini,khas,sveta chandana,tagar,bhringraja,motha)

- Drakshadi curna-(draksha,harad,mustak,kutki,amaltas,parpat)

KAVATH/ASAV/ARISHTA-(20-40ML WITH SAMABHAG WATER)

- Duralbhadi kwatha-(dhamasa,parpat,priyangu,mustak,kutki)

- Parpatadi kwatha-(parpat,netrabala,raktachandana,sunthi)

- Guduchyadi kwatha-(nimbchal,guduchi,dhaniya,padmakh)

- Patoladi kwatha-(parval,triphala,nimbchal,guduchi)