Anthrax: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Respiratory System (J00-J99)

  • Influenza
  • Infections of the mediastinum (middle pleural space), unspecified
  • Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
  • Streptococcal tonsillitis (tonsillitis)

Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99)

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

  • Skin/soft tissue infection, unspecified.
  • Histoplasmosis – infectious disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.
  • Legionnaires’ disease – infectious disease caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophilia.
  • Pneumonic plague
  • Plague (Pestis)
  • Smallpox (Variola)
  • Psittacosis (parrot disease) – the causative agent is the gram-negative bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci, which is widespread worldwide.
  • Q fever – acute febrile infectious disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burneti.
  • Toxic shock syndrome (TSS, Engl. Toxic shock syndrome; synonym: tampon disease); severe circulatory and organ failure caused by bacterial toxins (usually enterotoxin of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus/superantigen effect of toxic-shock-syndrome toxin (TSST-1), more rarely streptococci, then called streptococcal-induced toxic shock syndrome); for the diagnosis of “TSS” must be involved three or more of the following organ systems: Gastrointestinal tract/gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea/diarrhea), musculature (marked myalgias/muscle pain with elevation of serum creatinine or phosphokinase), mucous membranes (vaginal, oropharyngeal, or conjunctival hyperemia)/increased accumulation of blood, kidneys (elevation of serum urea or creatinine, pyuria/excretion of pus in urine without evidence of urinary tract infection), liver (elevation of transaminases, bilirubin, or alkaline phosphatase), CNS (disorientation, impaired consciousness)
  • Tularemia (rabbit plague)
  • Ulceroglandular tularemia – infectious disease caused by Francisella tularensis.

Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

  • Acute abdomen, unspecified

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

  • Necrotizing fasciitis – foudroyant life-threatening infection of the skin, subcutis (subcutaneous tissue), and fascia with progressive gangrene; often involves patients with diabetes mellitus or other conditions that lead to impaired circulation or decreased immunity