Deadly Diseases In Austria's History: 1800S Epidemic Explained

In the 19th century, many diseases were contracted due to poor sanitation and overcrowding. Citizens of Austria in 1800 would have been at risk of diseases such as smallpox, typhus, yellow fever, scarlet fever, and cholera. The Great Plague of Vienna, which occurred in 1679, was likely the bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, carried by fleas associated with black rats and other rodents. The city was crippled by the epidemic, which recurred until the early 1680s, claiming an estimated 76,000 residents.

Cholera

The third cholera pandemic, which began in 1852, is considered the deadliest. It spread from India to Europe, the US, and the rest of the world, severely affecting Africa. The fourth and fifth pandemics, beginning in 1863 and 1881, respectively, were generally less severe, but still resulted in extraordinarily lethal outbreaks in some areas. The identification of the cholera bacterium by Filippo Pacini in 1854 and German physician Robert Koch in 1883 was a significant advancement, paving the way for better understanding and more targeted treatments.

The discovery that cholera was transmitted by contaminated water, rather than through the air, was crucial in developing preventive measures. This led to the implementation of improved sanitation and water systems, as well as public health measures such as proper waste disposal, which played a crucial role in reducing the spread of the disease.

Smallpox

During the 18th century, the disease killed an estimated 400,000 Europeans each year, including five reigning monarchs, and was responsible for a third of all blindness. Between 20 and 60% of all those infected—and over 80% of infected children—died from the disease.

In the 19th century, smallpox continued to be a leading cause of death. Every seventh child born in Russia died from smallpox. In the 1870s, a smallpox epidemic following the Franco-Prussian War claimed 500,000 lives. The Franco-Prussian War triggered a smallpox pandemic of 1870-1875, as vaccination was mandatory in the Prussian army, but many French soldiers were not vaccinated.

Typhoid fever

During the 19th century, the case fatality rate of typhoid fever was 10-20%. Common symptoms included fever, muscle aches, headaches, stomach pain, and diarrhoea. More severe cases resulted in delirium, lesions known as "rose spots", paralysis, and death.

In the 1800s, physicians did not understand the cause of typhoid fever and could only treat the symptoms. Common treatments included opiates, turpentine, quinine, capsicum (an herbal medicine), and calomel (mercury chloride), as well as bleeding and blistering. However, many of these treatments were ineffective, contributing to a higher mortality rate.

The data and knowledge recorded by Civil War surgeons helped improve the medical community's understanding of typhoid fever. As a result of these recordings and medical advancements, two vaccinations against typhoid fever, Ty21a and ViCPS, have been developed.

Dysentery

The symptoms of dysentery included bloody or mucusy diarrhea, stomach cramps, pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In extreme cases, individuals could pass more than one litre of fluid per hour, leading to severe dehydration, which could be fatal. Other complications included kidney failure and pulmonary edema.

At the time, the underlying causes of dysentery were not fully understood, and treatments were often ineffective. Physicians used standard fever treatments such as bloodletting, blistering, and administering various medicines like turpentine, lead salts, and emetics to induce vomiting. Unfortunately, these treatments often worsened the patient's condition, and many succumbed to the disease.

Today, dysentery is managed by maintaining fluids and, if necessary, administering antibiotics. Proper sanitation practices, such as hand washing and food safety measures, are crucial in preventing the spread of dysentery.

Malaria

In Europe, the disease was associated with swamps and stale air, with the term "malaria" deriving from the Italian word "mal'aria", meaning "bad air". The English word for malaria in the Middle Ages was "ague", and the disease was very common and endemic in swampy areas.

In Austria, between 1990 and 2000, 924 cases of travel-related malaria were reported, with no significant trends observed. P. falciparum was the most common parasite, followed by P. vivax or ovale and P. malariae. Most infections were contracted in highly endemic regions, and the majority of cases were reported from the largest counties: Vienna, Styria, and Lower Austria. Overall, 12 deaths occurred, with a case fatality rate of 1.9%.

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