The organs affected by plague depend on the form of the disease, but primarily include the lymph nodes, lungs, and blood.
Plague is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The most common forms of plague and their primary organ involvement are described below:
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Bubonic Plague: Primarily affects the lymph nodes. The bacteria enter through the skin (often from a flea bite) and travel to the nearest lymph nodes, causing them to become swollen and painful (buboes).
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Septicemic Plague: Primarily affects the blood. This occurs when the bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, leading to sepsis. Septicemic plague can occur as the first symptom of plague, or it may develop from untreated bubonic plague.
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Pneumonic Plague: Primarily affects the lungs. This form of plague can develop from bubonic or septicemic plague spreading to the lungs, or it can be contracted by inhaling infectious droplets from another person or animal with pneumonic plague. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form because it can spread from person to person.
In summary, while plague can affect multiple organs, the primary organ involved varies depending on the specific form of the disease: lymph nodes (bubonic), blood (septicemic), and lungs (pneumonic).
