Bubonic plague: symptoms, diagnosis and prevention

Bubonic plague is deadly if it is not treated promptly with antibiotics. This disease is caused by bacteria Yersina pestisia which is transmitted by rodents. This disease usually occurs in areas with overpopulation and poor health conditions. What are the symptoms of bubonic plague if you live in a vulnerable area? Come on, see the following reviews.

Symptoms and types of bubonic plague

Bubonic plague is divided into three types based on the part of the body it is infected with. Signs and symptoms that appear in this disease depend on the type of bubonic plague suffered. People who are infected with bubonic plague will usually experience symptoms like the flu for 2 to 6 days. Then, afterward bubonic plague symptoms will appear. The following are the symptoms of bubonic plague that occur according to the type suffered.

1. Bubonic plague

The bubonic plague (bubo bubo) is the most common type of bubonic plague, spread when an infected flea or mouse bites you. This disease attacks the immune system and causes inflammation. The symptoms that emerge from bubonic plague are very similar to those with the flu. However, watch for the following other symptoms.

• Fever accompanied by chills
• Body feels weak
• Seizures
• Muscle ache
• Headache
• The appearance of swelling is about the size of a chicken egg, feels warm and even feels hot when touched and hurts. Usually this swelling appears in the groin, groin, neck, or armpits. This rebellion is called buboes. These bacteria travel through the lymphatic system and end up in the lymph nodes where they cause their swelling. This usually occurs within one to seven days of exposure.

2. Plague pneumonia

This type of bubonic plague occurs when bacteria invade the lungs. This disease is the only one that can be transmitted by humans through coughing. Symptoms appear most rapidly the day after a bite or direct contact with infected rats or ticks. Symptoms that arise from this bubonic plague are high fever, headache, weakness, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, coughing up blood or saliva and bleeding mucus, and shortness of breath.

These symptoms develop rapidly and can cause difficulty breathing and shock within two days of infection. If antibiotic treatment is not started within the day after signs and symptoms first appear, the infection is likely to be fatal.

3. Septicemic plague

Advanced bubonic plague, when bacteria have entered the blood because they are not treated immediately. The symptoms that arise from this bubonic plague are:

• Fever accompanied by chills
• Unbelievably limp
• Abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shock
• Bleeding from the mouth, nose, rectum (rectum), or under the skin because blood can't clot
• Blackened skin due to dead tissue (gangrene), usually occurs on the fingers, toes, or the tip of the nose. These symptoms cause bubonic plague referred to as black death or the black plague.

Complications of bubonic plague

If not treated promptly, this disease can cause various complications that can even be life threatening. The following is a list of complications that may occur.

1. Meningitis

There is swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, but meningitis is rare.

2. Gangrene

Blood clots in the blood vessels of the fingers and toes. The presence of these clots can interfere with blood flow and cause the tissue to die. The parts of your fingers and toes where the tissue has died must be amputated.

3. Death

According to the WHO, the mortality rate for bubonic bubonic plague is 30 to 60 percent, and is always deadly for plague-type pneumonia if left untreated. Most people who get antibiotic treatment immediately survive bubonic plague, but those who are not treated have a high mortality rate.

Based on WHO data, from 2010 to 2015 there were 3,248 cases of bubonic plague reported from around the world, 584 of which were unsaved.

How is this disease infected and diagnosed?

This disease occurs when you experience bites from rats or fleas infected with bubonic plague. However, not only from the two animals, it could also be from rabbits, cats, or dogs.

To diagnose the presence of this disease, usually a blood test or endoscopy will be performed. Then, the sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Initial results may be ready in as little as two hours, but testing and confirmation of disease takes 24 to 48 hours.

Generally doctors will start treatment with antibiotics before a diagnosis of the disease is confirmed (but it is highly suspected). This is done because bubonic plague develops rapidly and must be treated as soon as possible in order to speed up recovery or prevent more severe disease.

Antibiotics are usually given intravenously, such as streptomycin, doxycycline, or tetracycline. If treated at the right time, the survival rate can range from 85 to 99 percent.

How to prevent bubonic plague?

Although there is no available vaccine yet, scientists are working on developing one. Antibiotics can help prevent infection if you are at risk or have an outbreak. Take the following precautions if you live or spend time in an area where bubonic plague is common.

Keep the environment clean. Clean up potential nesting areas, such as brush piles, rocks, firewood, and trash.

Keep your pets away from fleas. Ask your vet about pet health and products that can kill fleas on animals.

Put on gloves. When handling potentially infected animals, wear gloves to prevent contact between your skin and harmful bacteria.

Use mosquito repellent. Supervise your children and pets when they spend time outdoors using mosquito repellent lotion.