Pneumonic Plague is caused by inhaling the bacteria Y. pestis. This bacterium is carried by rodents and the fleas that live on them. The bubonic plague and other related plagues are caused by the same bacteria. Pneumonic Plague is very easy to spread from person to person since it is carried in the lungs and easily expelled into the air.
The common symptoms of Pneumonic Plague are:
Without early treatment, many patients die of Pneumonic Plague.
This plague is caused when the y. pestis bacteria is inhaled into the lungs. This can happen due to face-to-face contact with someone else who has Pneumonic Plague, or it can happen due to breathing in bacteria that have been expelled into the air through coughing and sneezing of an infected person. Patients begin to experience symptoms about four days after exposure, which makes it very likely that people who are not yet symptomatic can spread this infection to others.
The risk factors for getting Pneumonic Plague are:
Most patients with Pneumonic Plague present at the emergency room with severe symptoms. This plague progresses rapidly, and patients can be quite ill within 24 hours of symptoms presenting themselves. Blood cultures and sputum cultures can usually confirm the diagnosis of Pneumonic Plague. Lymph node aspirations can also be done, and a chest X-ray might be taken to confirm the condition of the lungs.
Treatment for Pneumonic Plague must be given within 24 hours of symptoms showing up for patients to have a favourable outcome. The typical treatment method is to provide antibiotics of various kinds to kill the plague bacteria. IV fluids will usually need to be given to the patient, and treatment with oxygen can also help support respiration in patients with Pneumonic Plague.
Isolation procedures must be followed once a patient has been diagnosed to prevent the spread of this highly communicable illness. Hospitals will typically move these patients to isolation wards where specific care professionals will take care of them during their treatment. Anyone who has been exposed to the person who is sick will need to be watched carefully for the development of symptoms.
Outlook for patients with Pneumonic Plague is guarded. About 50% of patients will die even with treatment.
Prevention of this condition requires rat control and rodent control in and around your home or business. Fleas on pets need to be treated right away. If you have been in contact with fleas or rodents recently, you should consult with your doctor about things to look for related to early warning signs of Pneumonic Plague. Wear a facial mask and gloves when you are handling rodents of any kind or are working in an area where fleas or rodent contact might be possible.