Bubonic plague differential diagnosis: Difference between revisions

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{{CMG}}
#Redirect [[Yersinia pestis infection differential diagnosis]]
{{Bubonic plague}}
 
==Overview==
 
==Differential diagnosis==
The differential diagnosis of the plague can be broken down into three different categories based on the form of the disease.
 
===Bubonic plague===
*[[Streptococcal]] or [[staphylococcal]] [[adenitis]] (Staphylococcal                    aureus, Staphylococcal pyogenes)
**Purulent or inflamed [[lesion]] often noted [[distal]] to involved                        [[nodes]] (i.e., [[pustule]], infected traumatic lesion).
**Involved nodes more likely to be fluctuant.
**Associated ascending [[lymphangitis]] or [[cellulitis]] may                        be present (generally not seen with plague).
 
*[[Tularemia]] (Francisella tularensis)
**[[Ulcer]] or [[pustule]] often present distal to involved nodes.
**Clinical course rarely as fulminant as in plague.
**Systemic toxicity uncommon.
 
*[[Cat scratch fever]] (Bartonella henselae)
**History of contact with cats; usually history of cat                        scratch.
**Indolent clinical course; progresses over weeks.
**Primary lesion at site of scratch often present (small                        [[papule]], [[vesicle]]).
**Systemic toxicity not present.
 
*[[Mycobacterial infection]], including [[scrofula]]                    (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other Mycobacterium                    species)
**With scrofula, [[adenitis]] occurs in [[cervical]] region.
**Usually [[painless]].
**Indolent clinical course.
**[[Infections]] with species other than M. tuberculosis.                        more likely to occur in [[immunocompromised]] patients.
 
*[[Lymphogranuloma venereum]] (Chlamydia trachomatis)
**[[Adenitis]] occurs in the [[inguinal]] region.
**History of [[sexual]] exposure 10-30 days previously.
**Suppuration, fistula tracts common.
**Although LGV [[buboes]] may be somewhat [[tender]], exquisite                        tenderness usually absent.
**Although patients may appear ill ([[headache]], [[fever]], [[myalgias]]),                        systemic [[toxicity]] not present.
 
*[[Chancroid]] (Hemophilus ducreyi)
**Adenitis occurs in the inguinal region.
**Ulcerative lesion present.
**Systemic symptoms uncommon; toxicity does not occur.
 
*Primary [[genital herpes]]
**Herpes lesions present in genital area.
**Adenitis occurs in the inguinal region.
**Although patients may be ill (fever, headache), severe                        systemic toxicity not present.
 
*Primary or secondary [[syphilis]] (Treponema pallidum)
**Enlarged [[lymph nodes]] in the inguinal region.
**Lymph nodes generally painless.
**[[Chancre]] may be noted with primary syphilis.
 
*Strangulated inguinal [[hernias]]
**Evidence of bowel involvement.
 
===Pneumonic plague===
*Inhalational [[anthrax]] (Bacillus anthracis)
**Widened [[mediastinum]] and [[pleural effusions]] seen on CXR                        or chest CT.
**Not true [[pneumonia]]; minimal [[sputum]] production.
**[[Hemoptysis]] uncommon (if present, suggests diagnosis                         of plague).
 
*[[Tularemia]] (Francisella tularensis)
**Clinical course not as rapid or fulminant as in pneumonic                        plague.
 
*Mycoplasmal pneumonia (Mycoplasma pneumoniae)
**Rarely as [[fulminant]] as pneumonic plague.
 
*Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae
**Rarely as fulminant as pneumonic plague.
 
*[[Legionnaires' disease]] (Legionella pneumophila                      or other Legionella  species)
**Rarely as fulminant as pneumonic plague.
**Community outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease often involve                        exposure to cooling systems.
**Legionellosis and many other diseases caused by bacterial                        agents (S aureus, S pneumoniae, H                        influenzae, K pneumoniae, M catarrhalis)                        usually occur in persons with underlying pulmonary or                        other disease or in the elderly.
 
*Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)
**Rarely as fulminant as pneumonic plague.
**Result of bird exposure.
 
*Other bacterial agents (e.g., Staphyloccocus aureus,                    Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae,                    Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis)
**Rarely as fulminant as pneumonic plague.
**Usually occur in persons with underlying pulmonary or                        other disease or in the elderly.
 
*[[Influenza]]
**Influenza generally seasonal (October-March in United                        States) or involves history of recent cruise ship travel                        or travel to tropics.
 
*[[Hantavirus]]
**Exposure to excrement (urine or feces) of mice with                        hantavirus.
 
*[[RSV]]
**RSV usually occurs in children (although may be cause                        of pneumonia in elderly); tends to be seasonal (winter/spring).
 
*[[CMV]]
**CMV usually occurs in immunocompromised patients.
 
*[[Q fever]] (Coxiella burnetii)
**Exposure to infected parturient cats, cattle, sheep,                        goats.
**Severe pneumonia not prominent feature.
 
===Septicemic plague===
*[[Meningococcemia]]
**More likely to have evidence of meningitis (but not                        always present).
 
*[[Septicemia]] caused by other Gram-negative bacteria.
**Underlying illness usually present.
 
==Chest X Ray==
Some other infectious diseases can be differentiated by looking at chest x ray images. For example, [[SARS]], [[Hantavirus]] syndrome, and [[Anthrax]] all need to be ruled out because they do present with some similar [[Bubonic plague symptoms|Symptoms]]. An example of a chest x ray for Hantavirus and Anthrax is shown.
 
[[Image:Chest hantavirus.jpg|400 px|This chest x ray image is of a patient with Hantavirus syndrome]]
 
[[Image:Chest anthrax.jpg|This chest x ray image is of a patient with Anthrax]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

Latest revision as of 02:42, 26 July 2014