Plague

Introduction:


Plague is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which is primarily transmitted by fleas to humans. The other mode of transmission is through infected rodents. Humans are commonly infected while handling infected animals or when bitten by disease-carrying fleas.

The plague has great historical significance as well. It is also known as Black Death and was responsible for the death of millions of people across Europe and Asia in medieval times.

In modern times, very few people fall sick with the plague. There are medicines available to cure the plague; however, if the disease does not get diagnosed and treated on time, it can be malicious and can even cause fatality.

What are the Symptoms of Plague?



There are three main types of plague discovered, which are bubonic, septicaemic, and pneumonic. The symptoms vary depending on their type.

Bubonic Plague

In this type of plague, lymph nodes get swollen (buboes). The symptoms are visible in the first week after being become infected. Infection can occur in the groin, armpit, or neck region. The buboes are large and can be tender or firm.

·    Other symptoms may include:

  • ·         Fever with chills
  • ·         Headache
  • ·         Fatigue
  • ·         Muscle aches

Septicaemic Plague

When plague multiplies in the bloodstream, it can cause septicaemia. This condition is called the Septicaemic plague. Symptoms for septicaemic plague include:

  • ·         Fever with chills
  • ·         Extreme weakness
  • ·         Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting
  • ·         Bleeding from various body orifices
  • ·         Septic shock
  • ·         Gangrene

Pneumonic Plague

Pneumonic Plague is rare but most dangerous and affects the lungs of the patient. This type of plague is highly contagious and can spread from person to person via cough droplets. The disease progression is rapid, and people infected with it may require immediate hospitalization with intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Symptoms may include: 

  • ·         Cough with blood in sputum
  • ·         Difficulty breathing
  • ·         Nausea and vomiting
  • ·         High fever
  • ·         Headache
  • ·         Weakness
  • ·         Chest pain

What are the Causes of Plague?


The plague occurs by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that gets transmitted to humans via fleas, which act as vectors. Humans can contract the disease directly via flea bites or while handling infected animals, such as rodents, cats, and dogs.

The disease can also get transmitted to humans on the consumption of infected animals. Pneumonic plague can be transmitted from person to person via cough or sneeze.

Can Plague be Prevented?

There is no vaccine available for the prevention of plague. Antibiotics are available and can help prevent the spread of infection in the body. Few simple steps to avoid the plague are:

  • ·         Rodent-proofing homes
  • ·         Removal of potential nesting areas for pests
  • ·         Restriction of food access for rodents
  • ·         Keeping pets free of fleas
  • ·         Wearing gloves and face mask while handling animals
  • ·         Using insect repellent.

Medicines for treating plague are available at all retail and online pharmacies.

How can Plague be Diagnosed?

Doctors may recommend for testing samples for the presence of plague bacteria in case symptoms for plague become prominent. Doctors may look for the Yersinia pestis bacteria in samples taken from a patient:

1) Buboes: Swollen lymph nodes (buboes) are typical of bubonic plague. The consulting doctor may use a needle to extract fluid samples from the buboes (aspiration).

2) Blood: Yersinia pestis bacteria are present in the bloodstream only in the case of septicaemic plague.

3) Lungs: The concerned doctor takes the Lung aspirations or sputum samples to check for pneumonic plague. The sputum or accumulated fluid from the airways gets extracted by the endoscopic procedure.

How can Plague be Treated?



Doctors prescribe medicines as soon as they can detect the presence of plague bacteria in the patient. Since the plague is a highly contagious disease, the patient must be hospitalized or maybe quarantined for restricting the spread of the disease. Powerful antibiotics get administered after the patient gets hospitalized. Medications include:

  • ·         Gentamycin
  • ·         Doxycycline (Monodon, Viramidine, others)
  • ·         Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
  • ·         Levofloxacin
  • ·         Moxifloxacin (Avelox)
  • ·         Chloramphenicol

These medicines are available at any retail pharmacy. However, they can be purchase from any online pharmacy delivery app.

Conclusion

Plague is a highly infectious disease and can be fatal if not treated on time. Also known as the Black Death, the Plague has a significant role in shaping human history. The plague was the reason for the death of millions across Europe and Asia in medieval times. Fortunately, medicines are available for the treatment of plague, but they must be administered on time to save the life of a patient.

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