Medieval Diseases

Medieval Diseases By: Darius Cal Warning: some of this material may be to graphic for young viewers. Read at your own risk.

Dysentery “the blood flux” • Dysentery is an infection caused by bacterium or amoeba spreading through food or water that has been contaminated by contact with human waste. • Symptoms include: the beginning stages consist of fever, cramps, dehydration, and watery stools • As the disease worsens the symptoms include bloody stools, arthritis, and meningitis

Dysentery (cont.) • this disease was especially deadly to infants because of the loss of water and fluids in their bodies • Cities later made arrangements to improve the sanitary conditions

Gonorrhea • Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease • In males there is a 2-8 day incubation period after which there is a burning sensation after urination, and large discharges of pus. • there can also be an inflammation of the prostate. • In females there is a 2-8 day incubation the woman may not know she has the infection at all but if the infection spreads to the upper tract it can spread to the bloodstream which can cause fever, abdominal pains, and swollen, painful joints • This was a problem during the Medieval Era because this could have caused infertility in both male and female, and if the women did have a child, the infection could be transmitted to the child, causing blindness

Influenza • Influenzas an airborne and highly contagious virus. • the virus lasts a few months max but during the 15th century it was a major torment, especially during the winter.

Influenza (cont.) • Its symptoms consist of chills, head and muscle ache, along with nausea in the first couple of days. 1-5 days later the symptoms persist along with a runny nose, coughing, and sore throat. If the virus worsens it can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia

Leprosy “lepry” • Leprosy is a bacterial infection spread airborne or through direct contact • symptoms include loss of feeling on body starting with your hands and feet, paralysis, blindness, and the loss of limbs • This infection was worst among the upper classmen because the disease needs cholesterol to grow. During the time period the lepers were not allowed to mingle and interact with anyone but there own kind

Malaria “the ague” • malaria is a parasitic disease spread by mosquitoes • symptoms included extremely high fevers, headaches, and profuse sweating every 2 -3 days. If the infection worsen the spleen and liver will become enlarged and can ultimately lead to jaundice and death. • Though this was a continually reoccurring problem during the middle ages it was rarely fatal

Smallpox “the red plague” • smallpox was a highly contagious airborne virus • the symptoms included headaches, blistering rashes filled with pus, and possible Hemorrhages on the lungs • the fatality of this disease varied. If it was a mild for you would be okay after about 9 days if it was serious it was very fatal. In France during the 1440's smallpox may have killed more people than the plague

Typhoid Fever • typhoid fever is bacteria transmitted, like dysentery, through food and beverages that has had contact with waste • symptoms include high fever headaches, Diarrhea, weakness and abdominal pains. If the infection got really bad it could lead to pneumonia. coma, and intestinal hemorrhage

Sources • La Belle Campagne “Medieval Disease”. 19 Feb. 2008 <http:www.labelle.org/top-disease.html>. Internet • Reference Encyclopedia 2008ed. <http:www.reference.com>. Encyclopedia

Medieval Diseases