Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Complications of plague may include:

  • Death. Most people who receive prompt antibiotic treatment survive plague. Untreated plague has a fatality rate over 50 percent.
  • Gangrene. Blood clots in the tiny blood vessels of your fingers and toes can disrupt the flow of blood and cause that tissue to die. The portions of your fingers and toes that have died may need to be amputated.
  • Meningitis. Rarely, plague may cause meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
References
  1. Everett ED. Microbiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of plague (Yersinia pestis infection). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  2. Gage KL. Plague and other Yersinia infections. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/206594927-5/1015859897/1492/1167.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50338-4_14426. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  3. Everett ED. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of plague (Yersinia pestis infection). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  4. Plague fact sheet. National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/public_health/info/factsheets/fs_plague.htm. Accessed June 18, 2010.
  5. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about plague. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/plague/faq.asp. Accessed June 18, 2010.
  6. Information on plague. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague.info.htm. Accessed June 18, 2010.
  7. Interregional meeting on prevention and control of plague. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_HSE_EPR_2008_3w.pdf. Accessed June 21, 2010.
  8. Plague fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/qa.htm. Accessed June 21, 2010.
DS00493 Aug. 28, 2010

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger