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What are buboes and where do they appear on the body?

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Medieval illustration of Brotherhood of the Cross flagellants in robes and pointed hats walking in procession, some carrying a crucifix and banners, during the Black Death. — Black Death Flagellants in the Netherlands scourging themselves in atonement, believing that the Black Death is a punishment from God for their sins, 1349.

Buboes are painful, swollen lymph nodes that serve as the most characteristic sign of bubonic plague. These swellings, which often appear as red or darkened lumps beneath the skin, develop when the bacterium Yersinia pestis enters the lymphatic system and multiplies within the nodes.123

Buboes typically appear in the following areas of the body:
* Groin: The term "bubonic" is derived from the Greek word for "groin," reflecting the frequency with which swellings occur in this region.34
* Armpits: These are a common site for the development of the painful, inflamed nodes.123
* Neck: Swellings may also manifest in the lymph nodes located in the neck.13

These symptoms usually develop within one to seven days following infection. If left untreated, the infection can progress to more severe and potentially fatal forms of the disease, such as septicemic plague or pneumonic plague.31