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Bubonic Plague

Bubonic plague is an infectious disease. A flea that survives on rodents causes this infection. It is commonly referred to as Black Death, as millions of people in Europe were killed by this infection during the 1300s. The flea bites or sucks the blood of their hosts introducing bacteria in the blood that causes the infection in the body.

This is why this plague spreads rapidly among communities and regions within weeks. It is one of the earliest recorded epidemics that made its way to most parts of the Middle East, Europe, and North Sub-Saharan Africa.

Symptoms

The symptoms of bubonic plague usually appear within two to six days after exposure to the bacteria. They include:

  • Fever: The fever may come on suddenly and can be quite high, often over 38°C.
  • Chills: You may experience intense shivering and chills.
  • Headache: You may have a severe headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
  • Fatigue: You may feel very tired and weak.
  • Muscle aches: You may have aches and pains in your muscles and joints.
  • Swollen lymph nodes: One of the most common symptoms of bubonic plague is the sudden onset of painful, swollen lymph nodes, known as buboes. The buboes are usually located in the groin, armpit, or neck.
  • Skin lesions: In some cases, there may be small, painful lumps on the skin that are filled with pus.

Causes

The bacterium “Yersinia pestis” causes bubonic plague and is usually spread by fleas on animals like rodents. When these fleas bite humans, they develop the symptoms of bubonic plague. Cats and dogs are at risk of developing plague by eating infected rodents.

Typically, bubonic plague rarely spreads from person to person except if a person has pneumonic plague–infected lungs. It spreads plague via droplets in the air.

Reference Articles

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Risk Factors

Bubonic plague has several risk factors increasing your chances of contracting the disease, including:

  • Bubonic plague primarily spreads through the bite of infected fleas that live on small rodents, such as rats, squirrels, and prairie dogs. People who live or work in areas where these animals are present are at a higher risk of exposure.
  • Plague is more common in certain parts of the world, including parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. If you travel to these areas, you may be at an increased risk of exposure to the disease.
  • Certain occupations including wildlife biologists, park rangers, and veterinarians, may be at an increased risk of exposure to bubonic plague due to their proximity to wild animals and their habitats.
  • Living in unsanitary conditions, poor hygiene, and inadequate waste management can increase exposure to fleas and rodents.
  • People with weakened immune systems, such as HIV or cancer, may develop a more severe form of bubonic plague if infected.

Diagnosis or Complications

A doctor needs to take some tissue sample tests and blood tests to identify the symptoms related to bubonic plague. The lab results show the presence of the Y.pestis bacterium in the blood.

Complications associated with bubonic plague include:

  • Septicemia: Spread of bacterium into the bloodstream
  • Pneumonic plague: Lung infection leading to respiratory failure and death
  • Gangrene: Tissue damage and necrosis leading to the development of gangrene

Treatment & Prevention

Antibiotics can help treat the symptoms of bubonic plague. You may be hospitalized in the isolation unit if you develop serious symptoms. Antibiotics for bubonic plague treatment include:

  • Ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin
  • Doxycycline
  • Gentamicin

The bubonic plague can be prevented through various measures that aim to reduce the risk of exposure to the bacteria that cause the disease. Some effective strategies for preventing the bubonic plague are:

  • Wearing protective clothing, such as long pants and sleeves, and using insect repellent can help prevent flea bites
  • Practicing good hygiene
  • Getting vaccinated
  • Taking antibiotics

It is important to seek medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms, especially if you have been in an area where bubonic plague is known to occur. Early treatment with antibiotics can be effective in treating the infection and preventing serious complications.

 
 
 

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