Question

Can someone please tell me a. risk factors of the plague, b. expected findings of plague (symptoms), c. Labtory test for the plague d. diagnostic procedures of the plague

Answer 1

Plague is a disease which is caused by bacterial species called Yersinia pestis. It is an infectious disease which is also known as the black death.

a) Following are risk factors of plague that increase the chances of having plague in a person.

• contact with the person having the infection.
• contact with the infected animals and rodents.
• weather with the wet condition or cool conditions.
• living in crowded conditions.
• inhalation or handling contaminated tissues or tissue fluids.
• presence of rodents near the house.
• flea bites

b) Symptoms of plague include the following:

• Chills and fever.
• severe weakness.
• Unusual pain along with vomiting and diarrhea.
• Bleeding from nose, mouth or rectum or beneath the skin.
• Gangrene (blackening and death of tissue) in the extremities such as fingers and toes.

c) Laboratory test for plague includes immunological assays, culture, Nucleic based polymerase chain reaction, and point of care testing.

d) Laboratory test for the plague involves the diagnosis of fluid for the bacterium in the fluid present in the swollen lymph nodes or buboes.