The plague is a potentially fatal bacterial illness. The disease, sometimes known as the "black plague," is caused by a bacterium strain called Yersinia pestis. This bacteria is prevalent in animals all over the world and is often transferred to humans via fleas.
The danger of plague is greatest in regions with inadequate sanitation, overcrowding, and a big rodent population. Almost majority instances have been documented in rural and agricultural communities rather than urban metropolis over the previous 20 years.
During the Middle Ages, the plague killed millions of people across Europe.
Today, only 1,000 to 2,000 cases are recorded worldwide each year, with Africa, notably Madagascar, having the highest frequency.
The plague is a quickly spreading disease that, if left untreated, can result in death. If you believe you have it, get immediate medical assistance by calling a doctor or going to an emergency hospital.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PLAGUE?
There are three types of plague:
The bubonic plague
Bubonic plague is the most frequent kind of plague. It is often transmitted by the biting of an infected flea. In extremely rare situations, the germs might be obtained via something that has come into touch with an infected person.
Bubonic plague attacks your lymphatic system (part of your immune system), producing lymph node inflammation. If left untreated, it can enter the blood (producing septicemic plague) or the lungs (causing pneumonic plague).
The septicemic plague
Septicemic plague occurs when germs enter the circulation directly and grow there. Both bubonic and pneumonic plague can progress to septicemic plague if left untreated.
The pneumonic plague
When germs move to or infect the lungs, the condition is known as pneumonic plague, which is the most fatal form of the illness if left untreated.
When a person suffering from pneumonic plague coughs, germs from their lungs are released into the air. Other persons who breathe that air may contract this extremely infectious form of plague, perhaps resulting in an outbreak.
While untreated pneumonic plague can be lethal, recovery rates are normally quite high if treated within the first 24 hours after symptoms appear.
The only type of plague that can be passed from person to person is pneumonic plague.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PLAGUE?
People infected with the plague often have flu-like symptoms two to six days after infection. Other symptoms can help differentiate the three types of the plague.
Symptoms of the Bubonic Plague
Symptoms of bubonic plague usually present two to eight days after infection. They are as follows:
- Chills and fever
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- General weakness
Additionally, you can develop buboes, which are painful, enlarged lymph nodes. These are most commonly found in the groin, armpits, neck, or at the site of an insect bite or scratch. The bubonic plague is named for the buboes.
Symptoms of the Septicemic Plague
Septicemic plague symptoms normally occur a few days after exposure, however septicemic plague can kill before symptoms appear. Among the symptoms are:
- Stomach ache
- Severe affliction
- Bleeding (blood may not be able to clot)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting and nausea
- Chills and fever
- Shock
- Blackening of the skin (gangrene)
Symptoms of pneumonic plague
Pneumonic plague symptoms might begin as soon as one day following bacterium exposure. Among these signs are:
- Breathing difficulties
- Pain in the chest
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- General weakness
- Sputum with blood (saliva and mucus or pus from the lungs)
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF PLAGUE?
People are frequently infected by fleas that have previously dined on infected animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and prairie dogs. It can also be transferred by direct contact with an infected person or animal, or by eating an infected animal.
The plague can also be transmitted by scratches or bites from infected household pets or cats.
Pneumonic plague is transmitted from person to person by cough droplets containing plague bacterium. It is uncommon for bubonic or septicemic plague to transfer from person to person.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR PLAGUE?
In most circumstances, being at risk of getting the plague is uncommon. However, there are a few variables that might put you at danger. These are some examples:
- Direct touch with someone infected with the plague
- Dwellings with a high exposure to plague-infected rats or fleas
- Living in a heavily agricultural rural or semi-rural area
HOW IS THE PLAGUE DIAGNOSED?
If your doctor believes you have the plague, they will test your body for the presence of the bacteria:
- A blood test can tell you if you have septicemic plague.
- To test for bubonic plague, your doctor will take a sample of the fluid in your enlarged lymph nodes using a needle.
- To test for pneumonic plague, doctors will either a blood sample or a sample from a swollen lymph node and send it to a laboratory.
The samples will be analyzed at a laboratory. Although preliminary findings can be obtained in as little as two hours, confirmation testing might take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.
Even if the plague is suspected, your doctor will begin antibiotic therapy even before the diagnosis is confirmed. This is due to the rapid progression of the plague, and being treated early can make a significant difference in your recovery.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR THE PLAGUE?
The plague is a potentially fatal disease that needs immediate medical attention. If detected and treated early, it is a curable condition with widely available antibiotics.
Bubonic plague can proliferate in the circulation (producing septicemic plague) or in the lungs in the absence of therapy (causing pneumonic plague). Death can occur within 24 hours of the first symptom appearing.
Treatment generally entails:
- Strong antibiotics such gentamicin or ciprofloxacin, intravenous fluids, oxygen, and, in rare cases, breathing assistance
- To avoid transmission, individuals with pneumonic plague must be segregated from other patients.
- Even when your fever has subsided, your treatment will last for several weeks.
- Those who come into touch with someone infected with the plague will be constantly watched and may be given antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF THE PLAGUE?
When plague is detected early, therapy with appropriate medicines can be exceedingly effective. The biggest issue that may obstruct successful therapy is the timing of diagnosis and treatment initiation.
Because the plague can be lethal if not treated early, it is critical to see a doctor as soon as symptoms develop.
HOW CAN PLAGUE BE PREVENTED?
There are several strategies to avoid being exposed to plague bacteria:
- Control the rodent population in your home and business.
- Allow dogs to wander freely outside or sleep in your bed if you live in a plague-risk region.
- If your pet becomes ill, take him or her to the veterinarian immediately away.
- Keep mounds of waste like firewood, pebbles, and grass brush away from locations you visit.
- Use flea control solutions to keep any outside dogs flea-free.
- Wear insect repellent (chemical or natural) whenever you go outside.
- If you feel you have been exposed to diseased rodents or fleas, see your doctor very once.
- Recognize the signs of each form of plague in order to receive treatment as soon as feasible.
- Avoid close contact with someone who has been exposed to plague bacterium.
In the United States, there is presently no commercially licensed vaccination against plague. As a result, it's critical to take precautions to avoid coming into touch with the disease or any creature that carries it.
Where is the plague found?
During the Middle Ages, plague epidemics killed millions of people (about one-quarter of the population) in Europe. The disease became known as the "black death." That isn't the case now.
From 2010 to 2015, the risk of contracting plague was relatively low, with just 3,248 cases and 584 fatalities reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In most cases, outbreaks are linked to diseased rats and fleas in the home. Overcrowding and inadequate sanitation can raise the risk of plague.
The majority of human instances of the plague now occur in Africa, however they do occur abroad. The most affected nations are Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Peru.
The plague is uncommon in the United States, although it can still be found in the rural Southwest, particularly Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. The last plague pandemic in the United States happened in Los Angeles from 1924 to 1925.
In the United States, there are seven recorded instances each year on average. The majority have taken the form of the bubonic plague. In the United States, there hasn't been an instance of person-to-person transmission of the plague since 1924.
Only one case of the plague was recorded in the United States in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CONCLUSION
Plague can cause gangrene if blood vessels in your fingers and toes get clogged and cause tissue death. Meningitis, an infection of the membranes that protect your spinal cord and brain, can be caused by plague in rare situations.
It is critical to get treatment as soon as possible in order to prevent the plague from turning lethal.