Symptoms:

Bubonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, usually after 2 - 5 days of exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include:

• Chills
• Fever
• General ill feeling (malaise)
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Seizures
• Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo
  • Commonly found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the infection (bite or scratch)
  • Pain may occur in the area before the swelling appears

Pneumonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, typically 2 - 3 days after exposure. They include:

• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Frothy, bloody sputum
• Pain in the chest when you breathe deeply
• Severe cough

Septicemic plague may cause death even before its symptoms occur. Symptoms can include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bleeding due to blood clotting problems
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Signs and tests:

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood culture
• Culture of lymph node aspirate (fluid taken from an affected lymph node or bubo)
• Sputum culture