Related concepts:

Black death, Bubonic plague, Pneumonic plague, Meningeal plague, Septicemic plague, Yersinia pestis

Introduction to plague:

Plague is responsible for some of the worst epidemics in human history 100 million people died in the epidemic of 542 A.D.. During the Middle Ages, the Black Death killed about one third of the population of Europe.

Plague can occur on its own, but it is also caused by one of the few bacteria most likely to be used in an act of bioterrorism or biological warfare.

What is plague?

Plague is caused by a species of bacteria called Yersinia pestis. It is an infection primarily of rodents and their fleas, but without proper treatment it can cause devastating infections in humans and other animals.

Who gets plague?

People get plague if they are bitten by an infected flea. They can also get plague from close contact with infected animals and their bodily fluids.

In the United States, plague is most common in rural areas, especially in the western states.

People can also get plague from inhaling infected droplets or aerosols.

Children would be expected to be affected disproportionately in a biological attack.

What are the symptoms of plague?

Plague has several forms, depending on who is infected, how sick they are, and where the bacteria enter the body.

In bubonic plague, caused by flea or rodent bites from infected animals, people have a sudden high fever and exquisitely painful swollen glands (called buboes). These are most common in the groin, but may occur under the arms or in the neck. Bubonic plague is the most common form seen in children.

In pneumonic plague, caused by inhaling the bacteria, the sudden high fever may be accompanied by a shortness of breath and a cough, perhaps coughing up blood.

Meningeal plague looks like meningitis at the outset.

Children with septicemic plague often first show up with shock and bleeding.

Most children with any type of plague have fever, headache, shaking chills, and tend to get worse very rapidly. The name Black Death comes from dark bleeding or bruising under the skin.

About half of kids with any type of plague also have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Sometimes these are even the major symptoms at the beginning.

Is plague contagious?

Plague is somewhat contagious from person to person (or from cat or dog to person), especially through respiratory droplets.

How long does plague last?

Symptoms usually begin suddenly 3 or 4 days after exposure – though they can begin within only a few hours. Sometimes it takes as long as a week or ten days.

Without treatment, many die within 24 hours.