They might sound like something from a Charles Dickens novel, but potentially deadly Victorian diseases are on the rise in parts of the UK. Experts are warning that anti-vaccine sentiment could see some of the illnesses “bounce back” - while parents have been urged to be on the lookout for signs in children as cases continue to increase.
The 13 diseases - including Scarlet fever, whooping cough and diphtheria - are classed as “Victorian” because they were commonly found in the 19th Century, when poverty was rife. Diseases such as these were the greatest cause of Victorian mortality.
While their impact and spread has since been contained thanks to developments such as clean water, wholesome food, education, antibiotics and vaccinations, they have never really gone away. Areas where they have been on the rise, according to the latest NHS data, include Yorkshire and the Humber, Hertfordshire, Merseyside and Manchester, where the number of people being hospitalised is at a five-year high.
Speaking to the Telegraph earlier this year, Stephen Baker, a professor of microbiology at the University of Cambridge, said it was “amazing that in 2021 people are still getting scurvy” and that was mostly due to “really poor diet”. Meanwhile, many of the diseases are preventable through vaccination, including measles, whooping cough, diphtheria and mumps.
The UK Health Security Agency has also highlighted a post-lockdown rise in Victorian diseases such as scarlet fever, as children continue to mix freely. A total of 3,488 cases of scarlet fever were identified between September and March - lower than pre-pandemic levels, but compared to just 1,791 cases reported in the entire year to March 2021.
Rates have been highest in the North West of England, with officials in Warrington warning that cases are currently above pre-pandemic levels.
The 13 'Victorian' diseases and symptoms
Gout
Gout causes sudden, severe joint pain. Signs include sudden severe pain in a joint – usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, hands, wrists, elbows or knees. Another symptom is hot, swollen and red skin over the affected joint.
An attack of gout usually lasts 5 to 7 days before improving. Chronic gout can also cause tiny white lumps, called tophi, to appear under your skin, usually on your ears, fingers or elbows.
Tuberculosis
Symptoms include a persistent cough that lasts more than 3 weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody. Other signs are weight loss, night sweats, a high temperature, tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite and swellings in the neck.
The NHS says you should see a GP if you have a cough that lasts more than three weeks or start to cough up blood.
Malnutrition
According to the NHS, common signs of malnutrition include unintentional weight loss - losing 5% to 10% or more of weight over 3 to 6 months is one of the main signs of malnutrition. Other signs are a lack of interest in eating and drinking, low body weight, feeling tired and weak and getting ill often and taking a long time to recover.
Whooping cough
As the name suggests, whooping cough can lead to a "whoop" sound or a gasp for breath between coughs. People with the cough tend to get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night.
The cough may bring up a thick mucus which can make sufferers sick. Adults may also become very red in the face.
Measles
Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. The first signs include a high temperature, sneezing, runny or blocked nose, a cough and red, sore and watery eyes. People may also develop spots in their mouth.
A rash usually appears a few days after the cold-like symptoms. Sometimes the spots are joined together to form blotchy patches on the skin.
Scurvy
Scurvy is caused by not having enough vitamin C in your diet for at least 3 months. Symptoms can include feeling very tired and weak all the time, feeling irritable and sad all the time and having severe joint or leg pain.
People with scurvy may also have swollen, bleeding gums, develop red or blue sports on the skin and have skin that bruises easily.
Typhoid
The main symptoms of typhoid fever are a persistent high temperature that gradually increases each day, headaches, general aches and pains, extreme fatigue, a cough and constipation. People with the illness may lose their appetite, feel sick and develop a rash along with a stomach ache and diarrhoea as the infection progresses.
Scarlet fever
The three key symptoms of scarlet fever include a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands, and a bumpy, rough feeling rash that usually appears on the chest and tummy after 12 to 48 hours. Other symptoms include a white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days after appearing, leaving the tongue red and swollen, known as “strawberry tongue”.
Diphtheria
Symptoms of diphtheria include a thick grey-white coating that may cover the back of your throat, nose and tongue, a high temperature, sore throat, swollen glands and difficulty breathing and swallowing. Symptoms usually start 2 to 5 days after becoming infected.
Mumps
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that was once common in children. The main symptom is a painful swelling in the sides of the face under the ears (the parotid glands). Other signs include headaches, joint pain, and a high temperature, which may develop a few days before the swelling of the parotid glands.
Rickets
Rickets causes bone pain, poor growth and soft, weak bones that can lead to bone deformities. Symptoms include sore and painful bones leading to "waddling" or difficult walking, thickening of the ankles, wrists and knees, dental problems, poor growth and fragile bones prone to fractures.
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D is essential for skeletal growth and bone health. Signs of a deficiency can include muscle pain and weakness, rib, hip, pelvis, thigh and foot pain and fractures in the most severe cases.
Cholera
Cholera can cause severe diarrhoea. The NHS website says it is not found in the UK but there is a "very small risk of getting it while travelling in some parts of the world".
