Abstract

Anthrax is a rare zoonotic infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Cutaneous anthrax constitutes most of the cases and occurs in exposed skin areas (arms,fingers,etc.). Here we report a case of periorbital cutaneous anthrax infection. An 8-year-old girl presented to our hospital with a necrotic black lesion on the upper left eyelid and swelling around the eye. She had a history of contact with a dead cow. Her father and brother also had necrotic ulcerative lesions on their forearms. Gram-positive rods were detected in the swab Gram strain taken from her lesion. In addition, Bacillus anthracis growth in swab culture taken from her father’s lesion. She was diagnosed as “Anthrax” and treated with intravenous penicillin-G and topical oxytetracycline for 10 days. She recovered without functional sequelae. Physicians should consider cutaneous anthrax in the differential diagnosis of ulcerative and necrotizing preseptal and orbital infections, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries.