Bubonic plague physical examination

The pathognomic sign        of plague is a very painful, usually swollen, and often hot-to-the touch         lymph node, called a bubo. This finding, accompanied with fever, extreme        exhaustion, and a history of possible exposure to rodents, rodent fleas,         wild rabbits, or sick or dead carnivores should lead to suspicion of plague.

Onset of bubonic plague        is usually 2 to 6 days after a person is exposed. Initial manifestations        include fever, headache, and general illness, followed by the development         of painful, swollen regional lymph nodes. Occasionally, buboes cannot        be detected for a day or so after the onset of other symptoms. The disease        progresses rapidly and the bacteria can invade the bloodstream, producing         severe illness, called plague septicemia.

Once a human is infected,        a progressive and potentially fatal illness generally results unless specific         antibiotic therapy is given. Progression leads to blood infection and,        finally, to lung infection. The infection of the lung is termed plague        pneumonia, and it can be transmitted to others through the expulsion         of infective respiratory droplets by coughing.

The incubation period        of primary pneumonic plague is 1 to 3 days and is characterized by development         of an overwhelming pneumonia with high fever, cough, bloody sputum, and         chills. For plague pneumonia patients, the death rate is over 50%.

Physical images