Treatment of anthrax in children.

Anthrax has been described since biblical times. It was the first disease proved to be caused by an identified bacterial agent, the Bacillus anthracis. In man, the disease occurs in a cutaneous form as a malignant pustule, in a pulmonary form as wool sorters' disease, and very rarely in an intestinal form. Although the incidence of anthrax is rare in many parts of the world, it still remains enzootic and epizootic in many countries from which hairs and hides are exported. In southern Iran, the incidence of anthrax is probably much higher than recorded, for several reasons. Physicians are usually reluctant to report cases unless identification has been made by bacterial examination. Frequently, identification is not possible because of previously administered antibiotics. Some severe cases expire in the villages because they cannot reach professional help in the city. Some simple cutaneous lesions are treated in the village, without admittance to hospital. It is the purpose of this communication to report 6 cases of cutaneous anthrax in young children, with particular emphasis on the treatment of this infection.