Plague symptoms.Know what to look for.
Understand the early signs of bubonic, pneumonic and septicaemic plague, and when to seek urgent care.
Plague is a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. The symptoms vary according to which part of the body is affected. Sudden fever, weakness or breathing problems after a possible exposure call for prompt medical attention.
Seek medical attention immediately. For severe breathing difficulty or rapidly worsening illness, contact your local emergency service.
What are the first signs of plague?
Fever, chills, headache and marked weakness can occur early. These symptoms overlap with other illnesses, so the exposure history matters. Tell a clinician about recent travel, flea bites, sick animals or close contact with someone who has pneumonic plague.
CDC · DiagnosisHow the three forms differ
A painful lump is not present in every form. Plague can affect the lymph nodes, lungs or bloodstream, and one form can progress to another.
- Bubonic: fever and one or more very tender, swollen lymph nodes, often called buboes.
- Pneumonic: rapidly worsening lung illness, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath; sputum may be bloody or watery.
- Septicaemic: severe weakness, abdominal pain, shock or bleeding. Tissue damage can affect the fingers, toes or nose.
How quickly can symptoms appear?
CDC describes an incubation period of 2–8 days for bubonic plague. Pneumonic plague after inhalation can develop in as little as a day. The timing of septicaemic plague is less clearly defined. Do not use a time window to rule out illness.
CDC · Signs and symptomsWhen to get medical help
Seek medical attention immediately for possible plague symptoms, particularly after a relevant exposure. Severe breathing difficulty or rapidly worsening illness needs emergency care. Explain the possible exposure when contacting the service. A clinician assesses the symptoms and arranges laboratory tests; a symptom checklist cannot confirm plague.
CDC · DiagnosisCommon questions
Can plague occur without swollen lymph nodes?
Yes. Pneumonic and septicaemic disease may occur without a noticeable bubo. The absence of a swollen node does not exclude plague.
Are symptoms in Russia a different kind of plague?
The same clinical forms are relevant wherever plague occurs. Whether an individual illness in the Irkutsk investigation is plague depends on clinical assessment and laboratory evidence, not its location or a news headline.
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