Rapidly fatal septicemic plague secondary to undiagnosed primary bubonic plague: case report

Authors

  • Edinson Dante Meregildo-Rodriguez Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Regional Lambayeque, Chiclayo. Lambayeque, Perú. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1814-5593
  • Miguel Villegas-Chiroque Servicio de Infectologia, Hospital Regional Lambayeque, Chiclayo. Lambayeque, Perú.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2019.363.4292

Keywords:

Plague, Bubonic plague, Septicemic plague, Yersinia pestis, Sepsis

Abstract

Plague is a re-emerging disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Humans usually get the disease through the bite of an infected flea. Plague is a fulminant systemic disease, with pneumonic plague being the most lethal form. Late diagnosis is one of the main causes of mortality and spread of the disease, as it limits the effectiveness of control measures. We present the case of a 42-year-old male, who had previously traveled to an endemic plague area and then presented hyperpyrexia, hypotension, and inflammatory inguinal adenopathy. Despite the very characteristic clinical picture, nobody (before admission to our hospital) suspected plague. An effective combination of antibiotics and intensive treatment was initiated only on the fifth day of illness. The patient went into septic shock, respiratory failure, and death. Plague was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This case emphasizes the importance of having a high suspicion rate for plague.

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Published

2019-08-19

Issue

Section

Case Report

How to Cite

1.
Meregildo-Rodriguez ED, Villegas-Chiroque M. Rapidly fatal septicemic plague secondary to undiagnosed primary bubonic plague: case report. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2019 Aug. 19 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];36(3):515-19. Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/4292