Cutaneous anthrax associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and coagulopathy in a 7-month-old infant.
A 7-month-old infant with cutaneous anthrax developed severe systemic illness despite early treatment with antibiotics. The infant displayed severe microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with renal involvement, coagulopathy, and hyponatremia. These findings are unusual with cutaneous anthrax, but have been described in illness resulting from spider toxin and may delay correct diagnosis. The systemic manifestations of the disease persisted for nearly a month despite corticosteroid therapy, but resolved.
Freedman
Abigail
A
Department of Pediatrics, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Afonja
Olubunmi
O
Chang
Mary Wu
MW
Mostashari
Farzad
F
Blaser
Martin
M
Perez-Perez
Guillermo
G
Lazarus
Herb
H
Schacht
Robert
R
Guttenberg
Jane
J
Traister
Michael
M
Borkowsky
William
W
D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000209:etiology*; D000881:Anthrax / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D023482:Bioterrorism; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000175:diagnosis; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology