How Do You Recognize Septicaemic Plague?
The Great Plague, or “Black Death” that wiped out nearly a third of the European population actually has three manifestations: the bubonic plague, pneumonic plague and septicaemic plague. This last is the most rare and most fatal of the three; the mortality rate is nearly 100 percent. Look first for generalized illness and a variety of symptoms. These include chills, nausea, sore throat, headache, numbness throughout the body and a general feeling of illness. These symptoms are non-specific, so they are not usually a good diagnostic tool unless the patient has been around known plague victims. Keep in mind that the first specific sign of septicaemic plague is a sudden, high fever. Several hours after the onset of the fever the victim begins to turn a dark purple color. This is caused by respiratory failure and is the reason the plague was called the Black Death. Watch for signs of plague complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, abscesses or swelling of the lymph nodes. The usual c
