Pediatrics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pediatrics, including details on child development, perinatal medicine, child health care.

Clinical and pathologic differential diagnosis of selected potential bioterrorism agents of interest to pediatric health care providers.

Stocker JT

Department of Pathology, Pediatrics and Emerging Infectious Disease, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799, USA. jstocker@usuhs.mil

The early recognition of potential bioterrorism agents has been of increasing concern in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has categorized and listed biological terrorism agents. Although any or all of the highest risk biological agents (including inhalation anthrax, pneumonic plague, smallpox, tularemia, botulism, and viral hemorrhagic fevers) can be seen in the pediatric patient, several agents might closely resemble--at least in their initial stages-some of the more common childhood illnesses. The awareness of these similarities and, more importantly,their differences, are critical for all health care professionals. Selected examples of some typical childhood illnesses are presented and then compared with three of the most virulent biological agents (smallpox, anthrax and plague) that might be used in a bioterrorism attack.

Published 3 July 2006 in Clin Lab Med, 26(2): 329-44, viii.
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