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Where on the body do plague buboes usually appear?
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plague
Image depicting victims of the sixth biblical plague.
In cases of bubonic plague, the characteristic buboes—which are painful, swollen lymph nodes—typically appear in the groin, armpits, or neck.123
The term "bubonic" itself is derived from the Greek word for "groin," reflecting the common occurrence of these swellings in that region. These lumps, which may appear red or darkened beneath the skin, develop as the Yersinia pestis bacteria multiply within the lymphatic system following an infection.2