European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyze the knowledge and awareness of bubonic plague and its complication among dental students. Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease caused by yersinia pestis, symptoms of which are fever, headache, vomiting. It is spread through infected fleas. No vaccination has been discovered but can be treated with antibiotics such as gentamicin, streptomycin etc. This study involved 100 participants in the age group of 18-25 years. A well structured questionnaire comprising 10 questions covering socio- demographic information, knowledge, attitude, perception was framed and administered to the participants through online google forms link. In the current study 52.88 % of dental students were aware of bubonic plague. 54.81% students were aware that it was transmitted through infected fleas. 39.6%were aware that bubonic plague is a bacterial disease. 72% of students responded that probability is more for treating bubonic plague with antibiotics. 51% of students were aware that bubonic plague was caused by yersinia pestis. 51% of dental students had responded that swollen lymph nodes are the major symptom of Bubonic plague. 49% of dental students responded that france was the first country to be affected with bubonic plague. 44.2% students were aware that bubonic plague affects the lymphatic system. 52.9% participants responded that the probability of transmission of plague from dead animals is more. 51% of students responded that the probability of transmission from human to human is more. In 2018 Bland et al had done a study reporting that human ectoparasites such as fleas can transmit Bubonic plague caused by Yersinia pestis whereas in the current study 54.8% students were aware that bubonic plague transmitted through fleas. In 2008 Nils Stensth et al had done a study reporting Bubonic plague can be treated with antibiotics whereas in the current study 19.3% participants were aware that it can be treated with antibiotics. The current study was to analyse the knowledge and awareness of bubonic plague and its complication. This study shows 45% of dental students were aware about bubonic plague.