Doctor, Doctor...
By Dave Hall
For all you hypochondriacs out there, Dave Hall continues his regular look at a some of the more unusual medical conditions, as well as some you thought you knew all about.
This week: SMALLPOX.
|
Condition – This disease, unique to humans, was responsible for an estimated 300–500 million worldwide deaths in the 20th century. It is caused by two virus variants - Variola major and Variola minor, the former being more dangerous. Survivors were often left with a characteristic skin scars, blindness or infertility. Edward Jenner produced the first vaccines around 1796. Cultures of the virus are now kept by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States and at the VECTOR Research Centre in Koltsovo, Russia. To this day, smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been completely eradicated from nature.
|
||||
|
Contagion – It was highly contagious and transmitted through social contact or contaminated bedding or clothes. The incubation period lasted about 12 days, after which time the skin developed round pustules – nice.
|
 |
|||
| Danger of death – The more serious haemorrhagic smallpox had a chance of dying of about 96% as your organs all bled slowly - not pleasant at all. Normal smallpox had between a 1 and 35% mortality rate depending on whether you had the major or minor virus. |  |
|||
|
Incurability? – As it was certified as eradicated by the World Health Assembly in 1980, you’ll be incredibly unlikely to contract it now. There seems to be no carrier, which has helped eradicate it from the wild.
|
 |
|||
|
Likelihood of getting time off work – If you did catch it, and ended up in hospital with big puss-filled spots on your body, you’d certainly not be welcomed back into the office for some time.
|
|
|||
| Brag-ability – Famous people who have survived smallpox in history include Abraham Lincoln, Joseph Stalin, Elizabeth I of England in 1562 and Mary Queen of Scots. Louis XV of France actually died from the disease in 1774. You’re in good company. |
|
|||
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------- | |||
 |
Overall ridiculousness – We can all raise a drink to Dr. Jenner for his marvellous work, meaning we can breath a sigh of relief that this week’s disease will not be on the list of ones we can contract! Hurrah. |
 |
||
More conditions to come soon:
Copenhagen disease, Donovanosis and more.
Find more curious conditions in Doctor Doctor. If you can't wait for the next Doctor Doctor, then why not find a Phunny Phobia to keep you going?
Photo: CDC/USA
Share this
