Septicemic Plague

General Information on Septicemic Plague

Septicemic plague is caused by a bacterial infection, Yesinia pestis. Septicemic plague is a bacterial infection that spreads through the blood. Bacterium that causes plague typically infects rodents. The main way that people get the plague are by fleas biting a rodent or another animal, like a pet, that has the plague, becoming a carrier, and then biting and passing it on to people. Less common ways that the plague is spread is by inhaling droplets that contain the bacteria. Typically this occurs when being around someone who has the plague and they cough or sneeze which puts the bacteria into the air and it is then inhaled. Septicemic plague is rare passed from person to person. Septicemic plague can also occur as a result of bubonic plague or pneumonic plague that goes untreated. A person with septicemic plague may die even before the symptoms of bubonic or pneumonic plague develop. In the past, due to poor sanitation and rodent infestations, there were large epidemics of the plague. Today, there are not large epidemics and the only epidemics that due occur only involve a small number of people and most of the cases of the plague that occur in the United States occur in the south western states.

Symptoms of Septicemic Plague

Some of the symptoms for septicemic plague may be:

High fever
Chills
Headache
Swollen lymph nodes
Pus-filled lymph nodes
Hemorrhages under the skin causing black discoloration
Rapid heart rate
Weak heart beat
Low blood pressure
Enlarged spleen
Enlarged liver
Restlessness
Delirium
Lack of Coordination
Confusion
Chest pain
Cough
Coughing up sputum – appears clear at first and then contains blood
Rapid breathing
Labored breathing
Nausea
Vomiting

Treatments For Septicemic Plague

The treatment for septicemic plague is injections of streptomycin for ten days. Streptomycin is an antibiotic, but other antibiotics that are effective may be given instead. Those who have the septicemic plague need to begin treatment within twenty-four hours of contraction. The sooner that treatment is begins, the better the odds for recovery. Those that end up contracting pneumonic plague as a result of septicemic plague must be isolated and anyone that has been in contact with a person that has pneumonic plague must also go in for treatment.

Personal Experience

Septicemic Plague - personal experiences