All About Bubonic Plague

• What Is the Bubonic Plague?

What is the bubonic plague? This form of plague is characterized by large, infected lymph nodes, or buboes. This eMedTV segment provides information on the condition, including its primary symptom and mortality rates.

• Bubonic Plague Cause

The bubonic plague cause is Yersinia pestis, a type of bacteria that primarily affects the lymph nodes. This eMedTV article offers information on this bacteria, including common carriers of it and how it is transmitted.

• Yersinia Pestis and Plague

This eMedTV article explains the correlation between Yersinia pestis and plague. The connection is direct -- the bacteria often infect several animals (especially rats) and cause between 1,000 and 3,000 cases of plague each year.

• Bubonic Plague Transmission

Bubonic plague transmission often occurs through bites from infected fleas or contact with infected tissue. This eMedTV page discusses in detail how the disease is transmitted, as well as Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes bubonic plague.

• Bubonic Plague Symptoms

Bubonic plague symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory failure, severe headache, and others. This eMedTV Web page discusses these and other possible symptoms and also explains what happens if the disease is left untreated.

• How Is Bubonic Plague Diagnosed?

How is bubonic plague diagnosed? The doctor generally performs a physical exam and requests a blood sample. This eMedTV Web page explains the process in more detail and lists diseases that have symptoms similar to those of plague.

• Treatment of the Bubonic Plague

Antibiotics are usually used as treatment of the bubonic plague. The information in this eMedTV resource offers statistics about the mortality rate, both with and without treatment, as well as who should be evaluated for treatment.

• Is There a Cure for the Bubonic Plague?

Is there a cure for the bubonic plague? When a person becomes infected, the best cure is early treatment. This eMedTV article discusses antibiotics used to treat the disease and explains preventive measures designed to keep infections from occurring.

• History of Plague

For years, the history of plague has had a massive effect on civilization. The information presented in this eMedTV Web page discusses references to plague in art and literature, and the findings of plague research that took place during the 1890s.