Anthrax has a skin form and cutaneous anthrax; which term refers to the skin form?

Anthrax has a skin form and cutaneous anthrax; which term refers to the skin form?

• A. Skin Anthrax
• B. Inhalation Anthrax
• C. Gastrointestinal Anthrax
• D. Cutaneous Anthrax

Answer: (A)

The term used for the skin form is cutaneous anthrax. The naming follows the route of infection: skin entry gives the cutaneous form, lungs give inhalational (pulmonary) anthrax, and ingestion gives gastrointestinal anthrax. The word cutaneous comes from the skin, so cutaneous anthrax is the standard label for the skin form. While some might casually say “skin anthrax,” that isn’t the typical medical term, and cutaneous anthrax is the preferred, precise label.

The term used for the skin form is cutaneous anthrax. The naming follows the route of infection: skin entry gives the cutaneous form, lungs give inhalational (pulmonary) anthrax, and ingestion gives gastrointestinal anthrax. The word cutaneous comes from the skin, so cutaneous anthrax is the standard label for the skin form. While some might casually say “skin anthrax,” that isn’t the typical medical term, and cutaneous anthrax is the preferred, precise label.