Pneumonic plague

Pneumonic plague

Pneumonic plague is the most virulent and least common form of plague, caused by the bacterium yersinia pestis. Typically, pneumonic form is due to a secondary spread from advanced infection of an initial bubonic form. Primary pneumonic plague results from inhalation of aerosolized infective droplets and can be transmitted from human to human without involvement of fleas or animals. Untreated pneumonic plague has a very high case-fatality ratio.

Pathology and transmission

Pneumonic plague can be caused in two ways: primary, which results from the inhalation of aerosolised plague bacteria, or secondary, when septicemic plague spreads into lung tissue from the bloodstream. Pneumonic plague is "not" [http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/TG/HH/veclev2.html vector-borne] like bubonic plague, instead it can be spread from person to person. There have been cases of pneumonic plague resulting from the dissection or handling of contaminated animal tissue.

ymptoms

The most apparent symptom of pneumonic plague is coughing, often with hemoptysis.

With pneumonic plague, the first signs of illness are fever, headache, weakness, and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery sputum. The pneumonia progresses for 2 to 4 days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Without early treatment, patients may die.

Prognosis and treatment

Pneumonic plague is a very aggressive infection requiring rapid antibiotic treatment within around 24 hours of infection.

Early treatment of pneumonic plague is essential. To reduce the chance of death, antibiotics must be given within 24 hours of first symptoms. Streptomycin, gentamicin, the tetracyclines, and chloramphenicol are all effective against pneumonic plague.

Antibiotic treatment for 7 days will protect people who have had direct, close contact with infected patients. Wearing a close-fitting surgical mask also protects against infection.

Without treatment, the mortality rate from pneumonic plague approaches 100%.


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  • pneumonic plague — n plague of an extremely virulent form that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Pasteurella (P. pestis), involves chiefly the lungs, and usu. is transmitted from person to person by droplet infection compare BUBONIC PLAGUE * * * pulmonic plague …   Medical dictionary

  • pneumonic plague — noun a rapidly progressive and frequently fatal form of the plague that can spread through the air from person to person; characterized by lung involvement with chill, bloody expectoration and high fever • Syn: ↑pulmonic plague, ↑plague pneumonia …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pneumonic Plague —    This plague swept across western and central Europe during the fourteenth century, killing about one third of the 60,000,000 people living in that area. Needless to say, it destroyed the economy of affected areas. The cost of labor went up,… …   The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology

  • pneumonic plague — Bubonic plague Bubonic plague (Med.) a severe and often fatal disease caused by infection with the bacterium {Yersinia pestis} (formerly {Pasteurella pestis}), transmitted to man by the bite of fleas, themselves usually infected by biting… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pneumonic plague — Pathol. a form of plague characterized by lung involvement. Cf. plague. [1895 1900] * * * …   Universalium

  • pneumonic plague — See plague …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • plague pneumonia — pneumonic plague …   Medical dictionary

  • Plague (disease) — Plague is a deadly infectious disease caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis (Pasteurella pestis) . Plague is a zoonotic, primarily carried by rodents (most notably rats) and spread to humans via fleas. Plague is notorious throughout… …   Wikipedia

  • Pneumonic — may refer to:* Lung * Bubonic plague, known as Pneumonic plague * Pneumonic device …   Wikipedia

  • Plague — may refer to:In medicine: * Plague (disease), a specific disease caused by Yersinia pestis . There are three major manifestations ** Bubonic plague ** Septicemic plague ** Pneumonic plague * Any bubo causing disease * A pandemic caused by such a… …   Wikipedia

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