Final answer:
The main difference between Bubonic and Pneumonic Plague is that Bubonic Plague causes swollen lymph nodes and is transmitted by fleas, whereas Pneumonic Plague affects the lungs and can be spread through airborne droplets from coughing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary difference between Bubonic Plague and Pneumonic Plague lies in the part of the body infected and their modes of transmission. Bubonic Plague is primarily spread by infected fleas and is characterized by swollen lymph nodes or buboes, usually near the groin, armpit, or neck.
On the other hand, Pneumonic Plague directly infects the lungs and can be transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets when an infected individual coughs.
While the Bubonic Plague leads to symptoms like fever, nausea, and aching joints, Pneumonic Plague manifests as a severe form of pneumonia with symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, which can rapidly lead to respiratory failure and shock.
Both forms of plague are caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and have a high mortality rate if not treated promptly with antibiotics. Historically, the Pneumonic form is rarer but more lethal, as it can cause death within a week of symptom onset if untreated.
Today, due to the availability of effective antibiotics, mortality rates from both forms of plague are significantly lower when treatment is administered swiftly.