Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Pneumonic plague is a severe lung infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and requires prompt medical treatment.
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Pneumonic plague is highly contagious and can spread from person to person via respiratory droplets.
Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.
Without early treatment, pneumonic plague can be fatal within 24 to 72 hours after symptoms appear.
Yersinia pestis is the same bacterium that causes bubonic and septicemic plague but targets the lungs in pneumonic plague.
Effective antibiotics for treating pneumonic plague include streptomycin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones.
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Related terms
Bubonic Plague: A form of plague characterized by swollen lymph nodes (buboes) caused by Yersinia pestis.
Septicemic Plague: A life-threatening infection of the blood caused by Yersinia pestis.
Yersinia Pestis: The bacterium responsible for causing various forms of plague including bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.