plag-, plagu-, plague-

The most common form of plague, typically characterized by an abrupt onset of fever, chills, weakness, and headache, followed by pain, tenderness, and lymphadenopathy (buboes) of the regional lymph nodes.

Most often the inguinal (relating to or near the groin), femoral (near the femur or thigh), axillary (relating to the armpit), and cervical (neck including the neck on which the head is perched and the neck of the uterus) nodes, associated with a marked hemorrhagic tendency and the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation and necrotic purpura and extensive symmetrical gangrene (which may have led to the epithet “black death”).

Hematogenous dissemination may establish suppurative foci throughout the body. Severe complications include pneumonia and septicemia (organisms in the blood).

Transmitted in rodents and humans via an infected flea bite. The incubation period is 2-10 days. Yersinia infection is now rare in Western countries. Third world countries (for example India) can have epidemics of Yersinia.

Treatment with antibiotics is necessary or most individuals will die. Even with antibiotic treatment the death rate is estimated to be five percent.

A two-word compound that refers to war, famine, pestilence, and death personified as the four major plagues of mankind.

Plague with few systemic manifestations.

1. Any contagious, malignant, epidemic disease that causes high mortality; a pestilence.
2. An acute disease of rodents due to a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas, or by inhalation.
3. The human disease is usually divided into three clinical forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.
4. An infectious, epidemic disease characterized by fever, chills, and prostration.
5. Any widespread affliction, calamity, or evil; especially, one regarded as a direct punishment by God: "A plague of war and desolation."
6. Any cause of trouble, annoyance, or vexation: "Uninvited guests; especially relatives, are considered to be a plague by some people."

1. To trouble, annoy, or torment in any manner: "The question of his future plagues him with doubt."
2. To annoy, bother, or pester: "Locusts plagued the farmers as their crops disappeared."
3. To smite or attack with a plague, pestilence, death, etc.; a scourge.
4. To infect with a plague; to cause an epidemic in or among people.
5. To afflict with any evil: "He was plagued by allergies that caused his skin to itch all his life."
6. Etymology: "affliction, calamity, evil, scourge"; also, "malignant disease", from Middle Frenh plague, from Late Latin plaga, used in Vulgate for "pestilence", from Latin plaga, "stroke, wound"; probably from the root of plangere, "to strike, to lament (by beating the breast)".

The meaning of an epidemic disease that causes many deaths was first recorded in 1548-49, in the Book of Common Prayer, where the introduction of the spelling plague was first found.

A reference to any serious disease that spreads quickly to a lot of people and often ends in death: "There have been several plagueful diseases that have killed many people throughout history and even during our modern times."

A person or something that annoys, bothers, or pesters people: "There has been a plaguer who has been involved in several bank robberies in the local area."

"Ants are often plaguers of those who go on picknicks."

1. A reference to something that is likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease: "There are plaguey fevers, plaguey diseases, and many other plaguey things that cause people and other creatures to suffer."
2. Causing irritation or annoyance: "He was tapping an annoying plaguey rhythm on his glass with his fork."

"Aircraft noise is a particularly plaguey irritation for those who live near the airport."

"One of the most plaguey insects are mosquitoes."

"Some people have to put up with plaguey swarms of pestering gnats."

"There is a new plaguey newfangled safety catch on the doors."

3. In a disagreeable manner: "She came home shivering and complained that it's too plaguey cold today!"

1. In a disagreeable manner: "The talk show host plaguily criticized a caller who disagreed with his political views."
2. In a manner to vex, to harass, or to embarrass: "He was plaguily political, telling lies, of which very few people believed or were willing to consider."

1. To torment or to annoy: "He had a plaguy excessive pile of debts that he can't pay."
2. Vexatiously or excessively causing irritation or annoyance: "This room is just too plaguy cold in this winter weather."