Pneumonic plague natural history, complications and prognosis

Template:Pneumonic plague Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Natural History

The pneumonia progresses for two to four days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Patients will die without early treatment, some within 36 hours.

Prognosis

Pneumonic plague is a very aggressive infection requiring early treatment. The mortality rate from untreated pneumonic plague approaches 100%.