Taking into account that there are several ways of contacting anthrax, the symptoms and signs are different. We may speak about the inhalational and intestinal anthrax, about the septicemic (bloodstream) and skin (cutaneous) anthrax, mouth and throat anthrax known as oropharyngeal anthrax and anthrax meningitis. All of them have different signs and symptoms at different periods of time and different intensities.

In the case of inhalational anthrax the symptoms usually begin in 1-3 days, but in other cases it may take up to 60 days for symptoms to appear. A low-grade fever and maybe a cough that may be characterized as nonproductive are the first signs that show no suspicious disease. Chest pain may be another indication of the inhalational anthrax, usually associated by breathing problems that may not be taken as simple respiratory troubles. High fever and rapid breathing, sweating very much and even vomiting blood are other signs that may indicate severe inhalation of anthrax spores. The signs may resemble with those specific to heart attack and only a specialist may diagnose correctly such symptoms. The toxins of anthrax may cause death if the inhaled bacteria are stronger than the body system.

The intestinal anthrax is caused by spores of anthrax that were swallowed and the first symptoms appear 2-5 days later. Tiredness and loss of appetite are not so relevant symptoms for worries, but nausea and vomiting, especially blood vomiting may be a sign for serious alarm. Fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea with blood are other worrying symptoms, although due to these symptoms even the doctor may have difficulty in recognizing the intestinal anthrax. Death may occur after other 2 or 5 days after the first symptoms appeared.

The septicemic anthrax is usually a complication of the inhalational anthrax so that blood is infected with the anthrax spores. The bacteria are released from liver and invade the bloodstream so that the defense system of the body is simply overwhelmed. Due to the increasing number of bacteria, the red blood cells are not able to fight and as a result the internal organs may be colored in dark nuances.

The skin anthrax symptoms appear during the first seven days after the exposure to anthrax spores. The first skin areas that are affected by the anthrax spores are the hands and the face and neck in some cases. The likeliness of the infection to spread in the body is high, as up to 20% of the cases that were not diagnosed well and therefore were not properly treated may develop the disease and eventually die. In cases when the skin of the neck is affected by the exposure to the anthrax spores similar symptoms as in the inhalational anthrax may appear, especially breathing difficulty. The appearance of round sores with dimensions of 2-3 cm surrounded by blisters may be the worrying signs of the cutaneous anthrax. Bacteria are contained in the blisters around the sores and may be dangerous for further contamination.

Mouth and throat anthrax is the result of the swallowing process of the anthrax bacteria and both mouth and throat may be affected within 2-7 days after the contact or exposure. Breathing difficulties may cause death in some cases and swallowing difficulties may cause some other problems. This type of anthrax may appear before the symptoms of the intestinal anthrax develop.

The central nervous system and the brain may be affected by the anthrax meningitis as a result of complications of the mentioned types of anthrax. If the other forms of anthrax are not discovered and treated in due time, the complication and the diagnosis of anthrax meningitis is fatal.