The Plague and Leprosy

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to The Plague and Leprosy, highlighting their causes, transmission methods, forms of the diseases, and historical impact.

The Plague

A disease that has caused more deaths than all human wars combined, killing over 200 million people, and at its peak, 25% of Europe's population.

Yersinia pestis

A gram-negative bacterium responsible for causing The Plague, transmitted primarily through fleas.

Bubonic Plague

A form of The Plague characterized by the sudden onset of fever, body aches, and swelling at the lymph nodes (bubo), with a mortality rate of 60-90% without treatment.

Pneumonic Plague

The most severe form of The Plague, transmitted via inhalation, characterized by high fever, coughing, and a mortality rate of 100% without treatment.

Rodent Reservoirs

Rats and other rodents act as the primary hosts for Yersinia pestis, facilitating the transmission of The Plague through fleas.

The Black Death

The second pandemic of plague that occurred in 1347, resulting in approximately 25 million deaths in Europe over a five-year period.

Leprosy

Also known as Hansen's Disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae; it affects both the body and the mind of the public and is highly stigmatized.

Mycobacterium leprae

The bacterium responsible for leprosy, characterized as a straight or slightly curved rod-shaped, gram-positive, and acid-fast organism.

Transmission of Leprosy

Transmitted via respiratory route and skin-to-skin contact; it predominantly affects parts of the body that are cooler than core body temperature.

Tuberculoid Leprosy

A less infectious form of leprosy with few bacteria present, characterized by clawed hands and numb skin plaques.

Lepromatous Leprosy

The most infectious form of leprosy, where patients harbor large numbers of bacteria and are at high risk for secondary infections.

Epidemiology of Leprosy

Only about 4% of the population is susceptible to clinical leprosy, and the incubation period can range from 3 months to 30 years.

Multidrug Treatment Program

A strategy adopted in 1981 to combine medications like Dapsone and Rifampicin for treating leprosy, significantly reducing global prevalence.