# Bubo

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Inflammation of the lymph nodes

For other uses, see [Bubo (disambiguation)](/source/Bubo_(disambiguation)).

Buboes on the leg, caused by [bubonic plague](/source/Bubonic_plague)

A **bubo** (Greek βουβών, *boubṓn*, 'groin') is [adenitis](/source/Adenitis) or inflammation of the [lymph nodes](/source/Lymph_node) and is an example of reactive infectious [lymphadenopathy](/source/Lymphadenopathy).[1]

## Classification

Buboes are a symptom of [bubonic plague](/source/Bubonic_plague) and occur as painful swellings in the thighs, neck, groin or armpits.[2] They are caused by *[Yersinia pestis](/source/Yersinia_pestis)* bacteria spreading from [flea](/source/Flea) bites through the bloodstream to the lymph nodes, where the bacteria replicate, causing the nodes to swell.[3] Plague buboes may turn black and [necrotic](/source/Necrosis), rotting away the surrounding tissue, or they may rupture, discharging large amounts of [pus](/source/Pus).[3] [Infection](/source/Infection) can spread from buboes around the body, resulting in other forms of the disease such as [pneumonic plague](/source/Pneumonic_plague).[4]

## Management

Plague patients whose buboes swell to such a size that they burst, tend to survive the disease.[3] Before the discovery of [antibiotics](/source/Antibiotic), doctors often [drained](/source/Incision_and_drainage) buboes with leeches or heated rods to save patients.[3][5]

Buboes are also symptoms of other diseases, such as [chancroid](/source/Chancroid) and [lymphogranuloma venereum](/source/Lymphogranuloma_venereum).[6][7] In these conditions, a two-week course of antibiotics is the recommended treatment, and incision and drainage or excision of the swollen lymph nodes is best avoided.[8][9] However, [aspiration](/source/Suction_(medicine)) may sometimes be performed to prevent buboes from rupturing.[9] Although incision and drainage yields better results in such cases—since usually no further intervention is necessary, whereas repeat aspirations may be required—[incision and drainage](/source/Incision_and_drainage) wounds may heal more slowly, increasing the risk of secondary infection.[9]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Drancourt, Michel; Piarroux, Renaud; Bitam, Idir; Mouffok, Nadjet; Raoult, Didier (2013-01-01). ["Plague: History and contemporary analysis"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jinf.2012.09.010). *Journal of Infection*. **66** (1): 18–26. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.jinf.2012.09.010](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jinf.2012.09.010). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0163-4453](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0163-4453). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23041039](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23041039).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Paul, Slack (2012). *Plague: a very short introduction*. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 5. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780199589548](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780199589548). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [749871251](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/749871251).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_3-3) Orent, Wendy (2004). [*Plague : the mysterious past and terrifying future of the world's most dangerous disease*](https://archive.org/details/plaguemysterious00oren). New York: Free Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0743236850](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0743236850). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [54034997](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/54034997).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_4-0)** Isberg, Ralph R.; Davis, Kimberly M. (2014-09-18). ["Plague's Partners in Crime"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.immuni.2014.09.003). *Immunity*. **41** (3): 347–349. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.immuni.2014.09.003](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.immuni.2014.09.003). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1074-7613](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1074-7613). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [25238090](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25238090).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Nesfield, V.B. (1911). "The treatment of bubonic plague by the immediate incision of the glands". *The Lancet*. **178** (4601): 1262–1264. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0140-6736(01)42126-X](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2801%2942126-X).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Lewis, D. A. (2003-02-01). ["Chancroid: clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1744597). *Sexually Transmitted Infections*. **79** (1): 68–71. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1136/sti.79.1.68](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fsti.79.1.68). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1368-4973](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1368-4973). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [1744597](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1744597). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [12576620](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12576620).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Morse, Stephen A.; Holmes, King K.; Moreland, Adele A.; Ballard, Ronald C. (2011). *Atlas of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS* (4th ed.). Edinburgh: Saunders/Elsevier. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780702047640](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780702047640). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [761212082](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/761212082).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections. February 2004: 2. TREATMENT OF STI-ASSOCIATED SYNDROMES: 2.2. Genital ulcer: Inguinal bubo"](https://www.who.int/hiv/pub/sti/en/STIGuidelines2003.pdf#page=23) (PDF). *apps.who.int*. Retrieved 2019-02-13.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_9-2) Lewis, David A (2014). "Epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of Haemophilus ducreyi – a disappearing pathogen?". *Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy*. **12** (6): 687–696. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1586/14787210.2014.892414](https://doi.org/10.1586%2F14787210.2014.892414). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1478-7210](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1478-7210). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [24597521](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24597521).

Authority control databases: National United States Israel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bubo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.