What Was the Bubonic Plague?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. Buboes
Perhaps the most characteristic symptom of the bubonic plague was buboes, which were painful and swollen lymph nodes. It is from this symptom that the bubonic plague in particular got its name. They are caused when the yersinia pestis bacterium makes its way to the lymph nodes where it can then begin to reproduce.
Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of buboes is that they could turn necrotic and begin to decay the tissues surrounding the nodes. They would also sometimes rupture, leaking infectious pus when they did. Before the days of antibiotics, bursting the buboes would help increase the patient’s chances of survival.
Advertisement
