Plague

Plague is a severe and potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is not a genetic disorder but rather a zoonotic infection transmitted primarily through the bites of infected fleas that live on rodents, or through direct contact with infected animals or respiratory droplets from infected individuals. Plague is classified as a rare disease due to its low incidence in most parts of the world, though sporadic outbreaks continue to occur, particularly in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Plague manifests in three primary clinical forms. Bubonic plague (ICD-10: A20.0), the most common form, is characterized by painful, swollen lymph nodes called buboes, typically in the groin, axilla, or cervical region, accompanied by sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, and severe malaise. Septicemic plague (A20.1) occurs when the bacteria spread to the bloodstream, causing disseminated intravascular coagulation, septic shock, and potentially gangrene of the extremities — historically giving rise to the name "Black Death." Pneumonic plague (A20.2) affects the lungs and is the most dangerous form, as it can be transmitted person-to-person via respiratory droplets and progresses rapidly to respiratory failure if untreated. Other forms include plague meningitis (A20.3) and pharyngeal plague. Without treatment, plague has a very high mortality rate, particularly for pneumonic and septicemic forms. However, early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic therapy dramatically improve outcomes. First-line treatments include streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. Supportive care in an intensive care setting may be required for severe cases. Public health measures including flea control, rodent management, surveillance, and prophylactic antibiotics for exposed contacts are critical in outbreak settings. No widely available vaccine is currently in routine clinical use, though research into plague vaccines continues.

Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.

Common questions about Plague