Septicemic Plague
But it's important to note that most plague is spread from animal to human, not person to person - Julia Belluz
image by: HWN
HWN Suggests
Septicemic Plague
Septicemic plague is a sudden, nonspecific febrile illness that occurs in the absence of apparent regional lymphadenitis. It is characterized by rapidly progressive, overwhelming endotoxemia and dissemination of infection, and the diagnosis of plague is often not suspected until preliminary blood culture results are reported by the laboratory. Patients may have gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, making a correct clinical diagnosis even more challenging. If not treated early with appropriate antibiotics and aggressive supportive care, septicemic plague is usually fulminating and fatal.Featured
Plague Tales: Yersinia Pestis
When Yersinia pestis enters the bloodstream, Septicemic Plague can occur. This may happen directly from a flea bite, or as a complication of untreated Bubonic or Pneumonic Plague. Septicemic Plague may begin with flu-like symptoms. Additionally, it may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes hematemesis and/or hematochezia. Acrocyanosis, ecchymosis, petechiae, and digital gangrene may be noted. Septicemic Plague may progress to cause meningitis, osteomyelitis, kidney failure, DIC, and septic shock. The fatality rate is around 28% with treatment and around 100% if untreated.
Articles of Interest
Explainer: understanding plague in the 21st century
This may arise as a complication of untreated bubonic plague but could be the first presentation of plague in a person. Aside from the fever, chills, extreme weakness, abdominal pain and shock experienced with bubonic plague, septicaemic plague can also result in bruises and bleeding in organs. Skin and other tissues – especially on the person’s extremities, such as the fingers, toes and nose – may turn black and die.
Septicemic plague in New Mexico
Eighteen of the 71 cases of plague reported in New Mexico from 1980 to 1984 were septicemic. We reviewed these cases to better describe the clinical presentation of this disorder and to identify risk factors for developing septicemic plague. The symptoms (fever, chills, malaise, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms) and signs (tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension) of septicemic plague are similar to those of other forms of gram-negative septicemia.
What to know about septicemic plague
Septicemic plague is a complication of pneumonic or bubonic plague and can also occur independently. It develops when bacteria that cause plague multiply in the blood.
