Black Death: what it is, symptoms, treatment and transmission

Bubonic plague, more popularly known as the Black Death or simply the Plague, is a serious and often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis , which is transmitted through the fleas of rodent animals to humans.

This plague had a very important outbreak in the Middle Ages, causing the death of almost 30% of the population of Europe, however, nowadays it is quite rare, being more frequent in some places in sub-Saharan Africa and in the islands of Madagascar, for example. example. In Brazil, the last reported cases were after the year 2000, with only three cases across the country, in Bahia, Ceará and Rio de Janeiro.

When there is a suspicion of black plague it is very important to seek medical help as soon as possible, as in people who do not undergo treatment in 48 hours the chances of cure are very low.

Main symptoms

There are 3 main types of plague, which vary according to how the disease was transmitted and the symptoms presented:

1. Bubonic plague or Black plague

It is the best known type of plague that causes symptoms such as:

• Fever above 38º C; Constant chills; Very severe headache; Excessive tiredness; Very swollen and painful tongues (lymph nodes), which are popularly called bubo.

The ganglia usually become inflamed near the flea bite, but if treatment is not started, the infection can spread through the lymphatic system, affecting the entire body.

2. Septicemic plague

Septicemic plague occurs when the Plague bacteria multiplies in the blood and, therefore, in addition to excessive tiredness, fever and chills, it is also common for other signs such as severe abdominal pain and purple spots on the skin, caused by bleeding under the skin. skin.

In addition, some areas of the skin may turn black due to the death of the tissues, which is more common in the nose, fingers and toes.

3. Pneumonic plague

This type of plague is accompanied by the development of pneumonia and, therefore, some frequent signs include:

• Difficulty breathing; Feeling of shortness of breath; Chest pain; Constant cough that may contain blood.

Pneumonic plague can arise from the inhalation of particles contaminated by the feces of rats, but it is also a common complication of other types of plague, especially septicemic plague, when treatment is not started in time. The incubation period varies from 1 to 3 days.

Although it is more rare, this type of plague is quite dangerous, especially since it can spread through coughing or sneezing among people, especially in closed places and with artificial or reduced ventilation. Thus, people with this type of plague should remain in isolation.

How to confirm the diagnosis

Usually the diagnosis of Plague is suspected through the information provided by the person related to his life habit, for example, if he was in places with cases of the disease, in addition to the presence of signs or symptoms indicative of the disease, such as swelling of the waters, fever and excessive tiredness.

However, to confirm the diagnosis, an examination of sputum, blood and or fluids can be made, as well as a biopsy of a piece of tissue taken from a tongue, for example, in order to identify the presence of the bacterium Yersinia pestis , confirming the disease.

Transmission of bubonic plague

The transmission of the black plague is done in most cases through rodents, especially rats, but normally the disease reaches humans through fleas. This is because, after causing the rat to die, the flea usually migrates to other bodies to continue feeding on the blood. For this reason, the disease can also arise in other bitten animals, such as cats or dogs.

Although it is more rare, plague can also pass from one person to another, but this is especially true in cases of pneumonic plague, where the bacteria can be transmitted by the droplets released when coughing or sneezing. Another possible form of transmission is contact with blood or fluids of other infected people or animals.

How to avoid catching the Plague

One of the most effective ways to prevent bubonic plague is to control the rodent population. To do this, at home, it is best to avoid the accumulation of garbage, especially cardboard and old magazines, for example, since mice use this type of material to make their nest.

In addition, another disease prevention technique is to pass flea products on domestic animals, especially if these animals go outside.

If there is an outbreak of plague, repellent should still be applied to the skin to ward off insects and fleas that may be infected. However, if you have any suspicious signs or symptoms of plague you should go to the hospital immediately.

How the treatment is done

Treatment for any type of plague should be done using antibiotics indicated by the doctor. During treatment it is necessary to stay in the hospital in an isolation room, to avoid passing the disease on to others.

Ideally, treatment should be started as soon as the first symptoms begin as there is a risk of plague leading to death in less than 24 hours, with the greatest risk the first 15 hours after the onset of symptoms. Thus, if there is any suspicion of the disease, it is very important to go quickly to the hospital to confirm the diagnosis and start using the antibiotic. Understand how black plague treatment is done.