Anthrax Exposure: Early Symptoms & Skin Lesions

Initial (early) Symptoms:

- Mild flu-like symptoms are typically the first signs to appear and can occur within 1 to 7 days after exposure:

- Fever and chills

- Fatigue and malaise

- Muscle aches and headaches

- Sore throat and mild cough

- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite

In the rare occurrence of cutaneous (skin) anthrax, a small, painless skin sore (eschar) develops at the site of exposure within 1 to 12 days, typically on the hand, face, neck, or forearm. The sore eventually turns into a black ulcer with surrounding swelling.