Anthrax: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

• General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; further:
  • Inspection (viewing).
    • Skin [papules (“nodules”), vesicles (blisters/bubbles); with black scabs (splenic gangrene)], mucous membranes, and throat.
    • Abdomen (abdomen):
      • Shape of the abdomen?
      • Skin color? Skin texture?
      • Efflorescences (skin changes)?
      • Pulsations? Bowel movements?
      • Visible vessels?
      • Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
  • Auscultation (listening) of the lungs
  • Examination of the abdomen
    • Percussion (tapping) of the abdomen
      • Attenuation of tapping sound due to enlarged liver or spleen, tumor, urinary retention?
      • Hepatomegaly (liver enlargement) and/or splenomegaly (spleen enlargement): estimate liver and spleen size.
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing knocking pain?).
• If necessary, neurological examination [for acute onset of headache; confusion; muscle pain, tremor].

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.