What are the symptoms if I come into contact with anthrax?

Answer 1

This isn't as simple a question as you think since the symptoms are specific to how the infection was gotten. Also, the incubation period is up to 7 days but you may not show any symptoms for 60 days or more!

Symptoms by exposure are as follows.
Skin (cutaneous):
a small area that looks like an insect bite, this then becomes a blister and later turns black as the skin tissue dies
no pain
swollen lymph nodes near lesion
more blisters may develop
headache
fever
just not feeling well

gastro-intestinal:
ulcers on tongue and tonsils
sore throat
loss of appetite
fever
vomiting, often bloody
abdominal pain
bloody diarrhea
a few days later, the abdomen fills with fluid, the person goes into shock and dies within 5 days.

inhalation, the most lethal form:
fever
sore throat
muscle aches
difficulty breathing
respiratory symptoms that mimic pneumonia
Once shock and meningitis develop, death usually follows within 3 days. Once disease becomes is severe, death is imminent as treatment is no longer successful.

Oropharyngeal (back of mouth):
swollen lymph nodes in neck
sore throat (severe)
fever
difficulty swallowing
ulcers on tongue
later, develops trouble breathing

Antibiotics can prevent all forms of anthrax. However, if you are exposed, treatment needs to be instituted immediately! Once the infection is severe, treatment is useless.