What do the symptoms of anthrax infection typically include?

The symptoms of anthrax infection primarily include fever, cough, and chest discomfort, especially in the case of inhalational anthrax, which is the most severe form of the disease. Inhalational anthrax typically presents with a flu-like illness initially, progressing to more severe respiratory distress. The initial symptoms can include fever and cough, which are often mistaken for common respiratory infections. As the disease progresses, it can lead to significant chest discomfort due to respiratory failure, highlighting the importance of recognizing these early signs for timely treatment.

Understanding the progression of anthrax symptoms is crucial, as early intervention can significantly impact outcomes. In contrast, the other options present different sets of symptoms that are not characteristic of anthrax. For instance, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are more associated with gastrointestinal infections rather than anthrax. Similarly, symptoms like rash, fatigue, and joint pain do not align with the typical presentation for anthrax infections. The options that describe headache, loss of appetite, and sore throat may relate to other illnesses but are not specific to anthrax, which makes the symptoms in the correct choice the most likely indicators of this particular infection.