plag- +

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.

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."
7. To trouble, annoy, or torment in any manner: "The question of his future plagues him with doubt."
8. To annoy, bother, or pester: "Locusts plagued the farmers as their crops disappeared."
9. To smite with a plague, pestilence, death, etc.; a scourge.
10. To infect with a plague; to cause an epidemic in or among people.
11. To afflict with any evil: "He was plagued by allergies that caused his skin to itch all his life."

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

Abounding, or infecting, with plagues; pestilential; as, plagueful exhalations.

Someone who plagues or annoys.

1. Something that is likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease; plaguey fevers; pestilent, pestilential, pestiferous.
2. Causing irritation or annoyance; "tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork"; "aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport"; "found it galling to have to ask permission"; "an irritating delay"; "nettlesome paperwork"; "a pesky mosquito"; "swarms of pestering gnats"; "a plaguey newfangled safety catch"; "a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him"; "a vexatious child"; "it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong".
3. In a disagreeable manner; "it's so plaguey cold!"

1. In a disagreeable manner.
2. In a plaguing manner; vexatiously; extremely.

1. To plague, torment, or annoy; vexatious: a plaguy pile of debts.
2. Vexatiously or excessively: "This room is plaguy cold in this winter weather."