Meaning of bubonic plague (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Bubonic Plague:

Bubonic plague is a disease spread by flea bites infected with the bacteria yersinia pestis (which live in the fur of rodents). It can also be spread by contact with fluids from animals infected with the bacteria.

One of the characteristics of bubonic plague is the appearance of buboes, which are swollen lymph nodes in the armpits or groin. When the disease attacks the lungs, it is called pneumonic or pulmonary plague.

Symptoms of bubonic plague

The symptoms of the disease usually appear in the first 7 days and generally involve fever, malaise, muscle aches and fatigue. Buboes are painful, feel warm to the touch, and are the size of an egg, making them very easy to identify.

When it comes to lung plague, symptoms appear more quickly and include headache, high fever, coughing up blood, nausea, and vomiting.

Although pulmonary plague is not frequent, it is very dangerous due to the speed of its spread, as it spreads through the saliva drops that are expelled with a cough.

Bubonic plague that is not treated quickly can lead to complications such as meningitis (inflammation of the brain membrane), gangrene (which almost always involves amputation of the affected limbs), and, in the worst case, death.

Prevention of bubonic plague

Since the cause of the disease is a bacteria found in fleas, much emphasis is placed on pet hygiene, as well as the elimination of possible foci of rodents.

If rodents are already in the home or pets have fleas, disinfection measures should be taken quickly to avoid possible spread.

Bubonic plague and black plague

The black plague was a bubonic plague pandemic that wiped out much of the European population in the 14th century. An estimated 20 million people died, which at that time represented 40% of the population.

Before reaching Europe, the black plague first hit the Asian continent. The most accepted theory states that the disease appeared in the Gobi desert (between China and Mongolia) and that from there it spread to China, where a third of the population died.

Chinese merchant ships are believed to have had rats infected with yersinia pestis , and trade with European cities accelerated the spread of the disease.