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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffSymptoms of anthrax often come on suddenly and can be very serious. If you've been exposed to anthrax or develop symptoms after a possible exposure, go immediately to the emergency room. If your situation is less urgent, set up an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
If you have time before you go:
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that seem unrelated to anthrax exposure.
- Write down key personal information. Have you recently traveled to a part of the world where anthrax is endemic? Are you exposed to livestock, game animals or animal skins in your work or hobbies?
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided to you in the hospital or during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. For instance, if you're diagnosed with anthrax, you will want to know the type, the proposed treatment and your prognosis.
References
- Anthrax. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/anthrax/. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Anthrax. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec14/ch172/ch172b.html. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Wilson K. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of anthrax. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Wilson K. Microbiology, pathogenesis, and epidemiology of anthrax. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Anthrax vaccine: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-anthrax.pdf. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Wilson K. Treatment of anthrax. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Ferri FF. Anthrax. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed April 30, 2011.
- Wilson K. Prevention of anthrax. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2011.
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