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What were the symptoms of bubonic plague during the Black Death?

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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.

During the Black Death, the symptoms of bubonic plague were characterized by a range of systemic and localized physical effects. The most distinctive symptom was the development of buboes, which were painful, swollen lymph nodes—often appearing as red or darkened lumps—typically located in the groin, armpits, or neck.123

In addition to these swellings, individuals infected with the bubonic form of the plague commonly experienced the following symptoms:

Fever and chills123
Fatigue and weakness123
Headaches13
Muscle and limb pain13
Shivering3
Vomiting and nausea13
Giddiness and intolerance to light3
Apathy, sleeplessness, and delirium3

While bubonic plague was a primary component of the pandemic, it is important to note that the Black Death likely involved all three clinical forms of the disease—bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic—each presenting with distinct clinical features.3