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Plague (disease)
| Plague | |
|---|---|
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| Yersinia pestis seen at 200× magnification with a fluorescent label. | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Fever, weakness, headache[1] |
| Usual onset | 1–7 days after exposure[2] |
| Types | Bubonic plague, septicemic plague, pneumonic plague[1] |
| Causes | Yersinia pestis[2] |
| Diagnostic method | Finding the bacterium in a lymph node, blood, sputum[2] |
| Prevention | Plague vaccine[2] |
| Treatment | Antibiotics and supportive care[2] |
| Medication | Gentamicin and a fluoroquinolone[3] |
| Prognosis | ≈10% risk of death (with treatment)[4] |
| Frequency | ≈600 cases a year[2] |
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.[2] Symptoms include fever, weakness and headache.[1] Usually this begins one to seven days after exposure.[2] There are three forms of plague, each affecting a different part of the body and causing associated symptoms. Pneumonic plague infects the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain; bubonic plague affects the lymph nodes, making them swell; and septicemic plague infects the blood and can cause tissues to turn black and die.[2][1]
The bubonic and septicemic forms are generally spread by flea bites or handling an infected animal,[1] whereas pneumonic plague is generally spread between people through the air via infectious droplets.[1] Diagnosis is typically by finding the bacterium in fluid from a lymph node, blood or sputum.[2]
Those at high risk may be vaccinated.[2] Those exposed to a case of pneumonic plague may be treated with preventive medication.[2] If infected, treatment is with antibiotics and supportive care.[2] Typically antibiotics include a combination of gentamicin and a fluoroquinolone.[3] The risk of death with treatment is about 10% while without it is about 70%.[4]
Globally, about 600 cases are reported a year.[2] In 2017, the countries with the most cases include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Peru.[2] In the United States, infections occasionally occur in rural areas, where the bacteria are believed to circulate among rodents.[5] It has historically occurred in large outbreaks, with the best known being the Black Death in the 14th century, which resulted in more than 50 million deaths in Europe.[2]
- ^ a b c d e f "Symptoms Plague". CDC. September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Plague". World Health Organization. October 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Resources for Clinicians Plague". CDC. October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ a b "FAQ Plague". CDC. September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Transmission Plague". CDC. September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
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