The Plague

Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to the plague including topics such as history of plague, bubonic plague, and plague incubation period. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.

Description of Articles in The Plague

Plague is a general term for three diseases caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis. The information in this eMedTV segment covers the history, types, transmission, treatment, and prevention of the disease, and offers links to more information.

What caused the plague? As this eMedTV resource explains, the plague was contracted through the bites of infected fleas and rodents (a common transmission method today). This page also lists possible symptoms of plague, such as swollen lymph nodes.

Yersinia pestis are bacteria often found in rats and other animals, and can cause plague. This eMedTV Web page discusses this organism in detail, including transmission methods, and offers statistics about how often human infections typically occur.

As this eMedTV page explains, fleas, rats, and squirrels are all potential carriers of the bacteria that cause plague, and animals should be handled properly in order to avoid transmission in high-risk areas. Homes should also be made rodent-proof.

Bubonic plague, septicemic plague, and pneumonic plague are the three types of plague. This portion of the eMedTV archives explains the symptoms and transmission methods of each of these types in detail.

If left untreated, bubonic plague has a mortality rate of 50 to 90 percent. This portion of the eMedTV archives discusses the causes, transmission, symptoms, and treatment of this disease and offers statistics on its prevalence throughout history.

Pneumonic plague is one of the three types of plague caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. This portion of the eMedTV archives discusses this disease in detail, including the incubation period, symptoms, and treatment methods.

This eMedTV Web page describes how septicemic plague can result from the bite of an infected animal or as a complication of untreated pneumonic or bubonic plague. This page also explains treatments, symptoms, and transmission methods.

This eMedTV Web page discusses the three forms of plague transmission and the bacteria that cause the disease. Transmission most often occurs through the bites of infected fleas; person to person transmission is extremely rare.

The plague incubation period is the time between being infected and the beginning of symptoms. This page of the eMedTV archives discusses the average length of time for both bubonic plague and pneumonic plague.

There are different symptoms of plague, based on the type, and, as this eMedTV Web page states, can range from enlarged lymph nodes to coughing up blood to delirium. This page also lists plague symptoms for each type and offers related statistics.

This eMedTV Web page describes the process doctors use and conditions that need to be ruled out when making a plague diagnosis. In most cases, a physical exam is performed, a medical history is gathered, and a blood or sputum sample is collected.

This segment of the eMedTV archives explains the importance of prompt plague treatment (often in the form of antibiotics). The quicker the disease is diagnosed and treatment begun, the better a person's chances of survival.

This eMedTV Web page explains techniques for plague prevention that reduce the threat of infection in humans. For example, because there is no vaccine, antibiotics are often given to those who are in close contact with infected animals or people.

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.

Plague research is aimed at identifying genes in the bacteria that cause plague. This eMedTV resource outlines other areas of research, such as developing more promising treatment options and developing a vaccine against inhaled forms of the plague.

Is the plague a health problem today? Plague still exists in many countries, including the United States. This eMedTV resource offers statistics on the number of plague cases, explains what often causes it, and lists areas where plague has occurred.