History of Cholera Outbreaks in Iran during the 19th and 20th Centuries
نویسندگان
چکیده
Cholera is an acute infectious disease with high mortality if left untreated. Historically, between the 19(th) and 20(th) centuries seven great pandemics of cholera occurred and worldwide, thousands of people died. Based on an old theory, cholera was considered an air-born disease and the emergence of its outbreaks were attributed to bad weather or miasma. However later in the 18(th) century, British physician John Snow (1813-1858) explained the association of a terrible cholera outbreak in London in 1849 to contamination of the drinking water supply with human excreta. Despite his finding, the causative agent of this dreaded illness was unidentified until later in the 19(th) century. In 1854, Filippo Pacini (1812-1883) an anatomist from Italy and then in 1883, Robert Koch (1843-1910) the German bacteriologist, discovered 'vibrio cholerae' as the etiologic agent. During the major pandemics of cholera in 19th and 20th centuries this illness reached Iran and led to vast depopulation and a crucial impact on the country's socioeconomic status. Poor public health conditions, lack of a well-organized public health authority for implementing preventive and quarantine measures as well as Iran's specific geographic location were the main facilitating factors of the emergence of various epidemics, including cholera in Iran. The present paper briefly reviews the cholera outbreaks in Iran during the 19(th) and 20(th) centuries.
منابع مشابه
A history of the human plague in Iran.
In the history of medicine, the human plague has been considered as one of the most terrifying fatal diseases that over centuries, killed millions of people. Three major pandemics took place between the 6th and 19th centuries, which profoundly impacted the world's socioeconomic status; however, the etiologic agent of the plague remained unknown up to the end of the 19th century. During the past...
متن کاملA historical profile of diphtheria in Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Diphtheria is a contagious and life-threatening disease historically regarded as a major cause of mortality, particularly in children. Over the past centuries, frequent diphtheria outbreaks have occurred. Herein, after a quick look at the history of diphtheria throughout the world, a historical account of this lethal disease in Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries is presented.
متن کاملAn Overview of Epidemic Typhus in the World and Iran during the 19th and 20th Centuries.
The present article provides a concise historical review on classical epidemic typhus (exanthemata typhus) in the world as well its outbreaks in Iran mainly during the 19th and 20th centuries. Typhus is still a potential public health threat under certain conditions, despite the fact that nowadays, efficient antibiotics are accessible and sanitary conditions which lead to typhus outbreaks have ...
متن کاملA history of leprosy in Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries.
From ancient time leprosy has been regarded as a terrifying, stigmatized disease; nevertheless, its cause remained unidentified up to the late 19th century. For centuries numerous leprosy victims worldwide suffered from its morbidity and were socially isolated. The afflicted individuals were segregated because they were considered 'unclean' and had to live in leper colonies, generally under ver...
متن کاملA.P. Chekhov’s Works in Interpretation by F.E. Paktovsky
This paper presents a conceptual analysis of the essay by Paktovsky (1901) which concentrates on the works by Chekhov. The urgency of the research is determined by the significance of the literary figure for the history of Russian criticism of the 19th – 20th centuries, the importance of his vision concerning the writing of the authors of Russian literature of the turn of the century, as well a...
متن کامل