How to Treat Bubonic Plague

Bubonic plague is an infection of the lymph nodes that is passed when a rodent or insect bites you after feeding on an infected animal. While the bubonic plague is rare, you should know how to treat it.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Go to a doctor if you have fever, enlarged lymph nodes, headache, intestinal distress or chills. These are all common symptoms of bubonic plague and the sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can begin treatment. With treatment, you can survive the plague, but letting it go increases your risk of death.

2. Take all the antibiotics prescribed to you by your doctor. Most likely, antibiotics will be given before the lab results come back. Take them to prevent the spread of the disease and to get you well.

3. Be prepared for isolation. People diagnosed with bubonic plague are typically quarantined until the treatment is complete. This keeps the disease confined and prevents it from being spread to others.

4. Report any people you have come in contact with to your doctor. These people must be examined and treated, and depending on the results, possibly isolated. This prevents them from spreading the disease.