{"id":472,"date":"2023-10-09T00:48:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T00:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=472"},"modified":"2025-10-03T14:13:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T22:13:53","slug":"the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history","title":{"rendered":"The Top 10 Scariest Medical Diagnoses Throughout History"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#1_The_Black_Death_A_Plague_That_Struck_Fear\" >1. The Black Death: A Plague That Struck Fear<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#2_Leprosy_Social_Stigma_and_Isolation\" >2. Leprosy: Social Stigma and Isolation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#3_Smallpox_A_Global_Scourge\" >3. Smallpox: A Global Scourge<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#4_Tuberculosis_The_White_Plague\" >4. Tuberculosis: The White Plague<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#5_Syphilis_The_Hidden_Epidemic\" >5. Syphilis: The Hidden Epidemic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#6_Polio_The_Crippling_Disease\" >6. Polio: The Crippling Disease<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#7_Yellow_Fever_A_Deadly_Outbreak\" >7. Yellow Fever: A Deadly Outbreak<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#8_Spanish_Influenza_The_Global_Pandemic\" >8. Spanish Influenza: The Global Pandemic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#9_HIVAIDS_A_Modern_Epidemic\" >9. HIV\/AIDS: A Modern Epidemic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#10_Cholera_The_Deadly_Waterborne_Disease\" >10. Cholera: The Deadly Waterborne Disease<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#On_Past_and_Present_Diagnoses\" >On Past and Present Diagnoses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\/#References_Resources\" >References &amp; Resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Navigating the scary realm of viruses and bacteria can be hair-raising! While many of these conditions have become at least treatable, if not curable, many of them still scare even the bravest souls. Join us on this spine-tingling journey as we uncover history&#8217;s top ten scariest medical diagnoses!&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Yersinia pestis (plague) - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1U_NClWTOEE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_Black_Death_A_Plague_That_Struck_Fear\"><\/span>1. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/answers\/enteric-bacteria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Black Death: A Plague That Struck Fear<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Black Death<\/strong>, or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Yersinia_pestis_(Plague)\"><strong>Bubonic Plague<\/strong><\/a>, struck fear into the hearts of millions of Europeans and Northern Africans, killing one-third of the population of Europe, around <strong>25 to 30 million people<\/strong>, at its peak between 1346 and 1353. The plague spread from infected rats to fleas and ultimately jumped to humans who came in close contact. Symptoms included <strong>high fevers, pain in legs, abdomen, and arms, <\/strong>and <strong>large swollen pus-leaking lumps<\/strong> in the lymph nodes, known as <strong>bubobes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many <strong>superstitions <\/strong>surrounded the spread of the Black Death. These ranged from punishments from God, allowing foreigners to follow different religions, poisoned wells, and \u201cbad air\u201d to the (mis)alignment of the planets. It wasn\u2019t until 1894 that <strong>Alexandre Yersin<\/strong> discovered what actually causes the plague: the bacterium <strong>Yersinia Pestis<\/strong>. The impact of the plague was far-reaching. While wars were temporarily halted, so was trade. Families lost their breadwinners and were devastated, as were landowners who lost laborers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Leprosy (Year of the Zebra)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qYgT0FMPAhw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Leprosy_Social_Stigma_and_Isolation\"><\/span>2. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Leprosy:_Year_of_the_Zebra\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leprosy: Social Stigma and Isolation<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To suffer <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Leprosy:_Year_of_the_Zebra\">leprosy<\/a><\/strong> in early times was the pathway to the life of a social outcast, such was the stigma associated with the disease and the <strong>severe disfigurement and deformity<\/strong> it causes. Leprosy was something concealed and feared. In early times, colonies were created to isolate sufferers from society. The irony is leprosy is, in fact, <strong>not very contagious<\/strong>. Although today, leprosy, also known as <strong>Hansen\u2019s Disease<\/strong>, is curable with 6 to 12 months of multi-drug treatment, there\u2019s still a stigma associated with the disease. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment, but many people find it difficult to get the medical help they need due to the stigma associated with the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Leprosy <\/strong>is caused by<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Mycobacterium_leprae\">Mycobacterium leprae<\/a>. <\/strong>It impacts the <strong>peripheral nerves, skin, eyes, and respiratory tract<\/strong> and is spread by <strong>droplets from the nose and mouth.<\/strong> The impact of leprosy is far-reaching. Aside from the <strong>mental and social isolation,<\/strong> households are pushed into poverty due to the <strong>loss of income<\/strong> and <strong>high treatment costs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"518\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/60.png\" alt=\"An illustration of a smallpox virus\" class=\"wp-image-476\" style=\"width:286px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/60.png 518w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/60.png?resize=300,197 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Smallpox_A_Global_Scourge\"><\/span>3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2DeEW5u-xIw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Smallpox: A Global Scourge<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Poxvirus_(Smallpox_and_Molluscum_contagiosum)\">Smallpox <\/a>has a unique place in medical history. It remains <strong>the only infectious disease that has ever been totally eradicated<\/strong>. However, prior to the discovery of a <strong>vaccine<\/strong>, smallpox had a <strong>30% mortality rate<\/strong>. The disease caused a <strong>distinctive skin rash (pox), fever,<\/strong> and, in some instances, <strong>blindness,<\/strong> resulting in those that survived often disfigured from the scars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Vaccinations\"><strong>vaccine<\/strong><\/a> was developed from the observation of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-quick-history-of-vaccines-from-smallpox-to-covid\">Edward Jenner<\/a>,<\/strong> who noted that milkmaids who developed <strong>cowpox <\/strong>didn&#8217;t seem to get smallpox. The last <strong>natural outbreak<\/strong> of smallpox occurred in 1977. Despite the first vaccine being developed in 1796, it still took nearly <strong>200 years to eradicate the disease<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tuberculosis - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6P6zBHpWiGA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Tuberculosis_The_White_Plague\"><\/span>4. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6P6zBHpWiGA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tuberculosis: The White Plague<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Mycobacterium_tuberculosis_(Tuberculosis)\"><strong>Tuberculosi<\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Tuberculosis:_Pathology_review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">s<\/a><\/strong> still affects 10 million people yearly; despite being <strong>preventable and curable<\/strong>, 1.5 million die annually. In the late 1800s, tuberculosis accounted for one in every seven deaths in the US and Europe. Referred to as the <strong>White Plague<\/strong> due to the pale pallor resulting from <strong>severe weight loss, fatigue, <\/strong>and <strong>general debilitation<\/strong>, tuberculosis is an airborne disease caused by the <strong>bacteria <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Mycobacterium_tuberculosis_(Tuberculosis)\">Mycobacterium tuberculosis<\/a><\/strong>. It most commonly affects the lungs with symptoms including a <strong>bad, long-lasting cough, expelling bloody sputum, and chest pain<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before <strong>antibiotics<\/strong>, <strong>isolation<\/strong>, and <strong>good nutrition<\/strong> were considered the key to managing tuberculosis. The first significant breakthrough in treatment came with the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Vaccination_and_herd_immunity\">Bacille Calmette-Gu\u00e9rin (BCG) vaccine<\/a><\/strong> in 1921. Antibiotics were the key, and between 1951 and 1966, a new four-drug cocktail was developed that cured tuberculosis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notwithstanding these advances, the <strong>cost of treatment is very high due<\/strong> to the increase in new, <strong>drug-resistant strains<\/strong> that require <strong>DNA testing<\/strong> to identify the strain before treatment, along with a significant <strong>shortage of health professionals<\/strong> and clinical resources, making tuberculosis an <strong>ongoing health crisis<\/strong> for less developed countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"514\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/61.png\" alt=\"An illustration of syphilis bacterium.\" class=\"wp-image-477\" style=\"width:268px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/61.png 514w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/61.png?resize=300,168 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 514px) 100vw, 514px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Syphilis_The_Hidden_Epidemic\"><\/span>5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Treponema_pallidum_(Syphilis)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Syphilis: The Hidden Epidemic<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve dated syphilis as a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-osmosis-quick-reference-guides-to-reproductive-and-sexual-health\">sexually-transmitted infection (STI)<\/a><\/strong> to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3956094\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">around 3000 BC<\/a>&nbsp;when it spread due to <strong>lowering temperatures<\/strong> in Europe and the rest of the world. The <strong>first recorded syphilis outbreak<\/strong> was in 1495, rapidly moving from military circles into the general population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Infection begins with a <strong>painful sore<\/strong>, often in the genital area, progressing to a ra<strong>sh on the soles of the feet or palms<\/strong>, possibly after the sore has healed. Untreated syphilis has a <strong>mortality rate of 8% to 58%<\/strong> but is <strong>easily treatable<\/strong> with one to three doses of penicillin and preventable with the use of <strong>safe sex practices.<\/strong> It\u2019s usually accompanied by <strong>flu-like symptoms,<\/strong> eventually dissipating and entering a latent stage that can last for many years. For the unlucky few, however, it ultimately enters what\u2019s known as the <strong>tertiary stage<\/strong>, where it has the potential to impact most of the <strong>systems in the body<\/strong>. Despite knowing how to prevent and cure it, the WHO estimates there are <strong>7.1 million cases of syphilis<\/strong> each year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"948\" height=\"945\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/62.png\" alt=\"An illustration of a polio virus\" class=\"wp-image-478\" style=\"width:246px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/62.png 948w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/62.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/62.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/62.png?resize=768,766 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 948px) 100vw, 948px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Polio_The_Crippling_Disease\"><\/span>6. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Poliovirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Polio: The Crippling Disease<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The summers of the <strong>early 1950s<\/strong> were known as the \u201csummers without children\u201d when parents isolated their children, fearing they would succumb to <strong>polio<\/strong>. Due to the lack of knowledge about the disease, some children ended up <strong>paralyzed<\/strong>, while others spent time in <strong>iron lungs<\/strong> trying to stave off the infection. Fear was at an all-time high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Poliomyelitis <\/strong>is a viral disease that\u2019s typically <strong>transmitted via the fecal-oral route<\/strong>. It consolidates in the <strong>intestinal system<\/strong>, invading the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Nervous_system_anatomy_and_physiology\"><strong>nervous system<\/strong><\/a>, potentially resulting in <strong>complete paralysis<\/strong>. In 1952, over 3,000 kids in the US died of polio; nearly 60,000 were infected, many left partially paralyzed. It took <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-history-of-pediatrics-from-ancient-india-to-modern-medical-specialty\"><strong>Jonas Salk<\/strong><\/a>, at the University of Pittsburgh, to develop a vaccine that halted the endemic. &nbsp;Since then, <strong>polio has effectively been eradicated<\/strong>. The last US case was in 1979, but it\u2019s still causing <strong>outbreaks <\/strong>in the border areas of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/poliomyelitis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Afghanistan and Pakistan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/63.png\" alt=\"An illustration of the yellow fever virus\" class=\"wp-image-479\" style=\"width:280px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/63.png 500w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/63.png?resize=300,281 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Yellow_Fever_A_Deadly_Outbreak\"><\/span>7. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Yellow_fever_virus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yellow Fever: A Deadly Outbreak<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bite from an infected <strong>mosquito <\/strong>carrying the <strong>yellow fever virus<\/strong> results in 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths yearly. The virus damages the <strong>internal organs<\/strong>, in particular the <strong>liver<\/strong>. As the name suggests, the prominent symptoms are <strong>yellowing skin and fever<\/strong>, accompanied by other <strong>flu-like symptoms<\/strong>. If the disease progresses, it causes viral hemorrhagic fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Endemic in 44 tropical countries<\/strong> in Africa and South America, there\u2019s <strong>no cure for yellow fever<\/strong>, just supportive measures. The answer lies in <strong>vaccination<\/strong>, which has been available for eighty years and provides lifelong protection with just <strong>one vaccination<\/strong>. Despite being introduced as part of the <strong>childhood vaccination schedule <\/strong>in at-risk countries, it\u2019s estimated that just <strong>45% of the population<\/strong> received the <strong>vaccination<\/strong>, leaving a significant portion of the population without <strong>immunization<\/strong> against the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"812\" height=\"327\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/64.png\" alt=\"An illustration of Spanish Influenza virus\" class=\"wp-image-480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/64.png 812w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/64.png?resize=300,121 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/64.png?resize=768,309 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 812px) 100vw, 812px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Spanish_Influenza_The_Global_Pandemic\"><\/span>8. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Influenza_virus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spanish Influenza: The Global Pandemic<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite its name, <strong>Spanish Influenza<\/strong>, as it\u2019s sometimes referred to, <strong>did not originate in Spain<\/strong>. It\u2019s believed to have <strong>originated in the US,<\/strong> carried to Europe by soldiers headed to Europe to fight in <strong>World War I.<\/strong> Keen to keep the losses secret, the <strong>military withheld the death rate<\/strong> from the public. The uncensored press in Spain broke the story, leading to an attribution of the origin to Spain. It\u2019s estimated that <strong>50 million people<\/strong> globally succumbed to the Spanish flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The symptoms of Spanish Influenza included <strong>muscle and joint pain, fever, and chest pain.<\/strong> It struck in rural and urban areas, although <strong>poor hygiene<\/strong> and <strong>cramped living conditions<\/strong> among soldiers may have contributed to its spread. Victims often died <strong>within a few hours of experiencing symptoms<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"267\" height=\"252\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/65.png\" alt=\"An illustration of the HIV virus.\" class=\"wp-image-481\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_HIVAIDS_A_Modern_Epidemic\"><\/span>9. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5g1ijpBI6Dk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HIV\/AIDS: A Modern Epidemic<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Initially recognized in 1981, it took another three years to pinpoint <strong>HIV as the cause of AIDS<\/strong>, with estimates that 100,000 to 300,000 individuals were already living with HIV prior to 1980. Little was known about its <strong>transmission<\/strong>, leading to rising <strong>discrimination against the gay community<\/strong> and <strong>IV drug users<\/strong>, who were disproportionately affected. This era witnessed significant <strong>fear and stigma<\/strong> surrounding those with HIV.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Education played a significant role in <strong>reducing this stigma,<\/strong> along with the support of various celebrities, including Princess Diana, who publicly shook hands with an HIV-positive man, along with the death of icons like Rock Hudson and Freddie Mercury. Introduced in 1987, <strong>AZT <\/strong>was the first, but not especially effective, treatment due to <strong>rapid viral mutations<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first significant breakthrough came with the <strong>HAART antiretroviral treatment<\/strong> regime in 1995, which resulted in a <strong>47% reduction in deaths<\/strong> the following year. According to the WHO, \u201cThe estimated <strong>630,000 people dying from HIV<\/strong> globally in 2022 were <strong>69% fewer<\/strong> than in 2004 (the peak) and <strong>51% fewer<\/strong> than in 2010 despite a period of substantial population growth in many high-burden countries.\u201d Treatments for HIV\/AIDS continue to be refined, along with the development of effective <strong>prophylactic medications like PrEP<\/strong>, showing that HIV is <strong>no longer a death sentence<\/strong> but a managed condition that <strong>39 million people live with globally<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"327\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66.png\" alt=\"An illustration of cholera bacteria\" class=\"wp-image-482\" style=\"width:199px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66.png 327w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66.png?resize=284,300 284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 327px) 100vw, 327px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Cholera_The_Deadly_Waterborne_Disease\"><\/span>10. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=__fGOYOSlMY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cholera: The Deadly Waterborne Disease<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Vibrio_cholerae_(Cholera)\">Cholera<\/a> has been around for <strong>several centuries<\/strong>, with <strong>multiple major outbreaks<\/strong>. In 1845, British physician and epidemiologist <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-medical-advances-in-history\">John Sno<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-medical-advances-in-history#Epidemiology\">w<\/a><\/strong> confirmed that <strong>poor sanitation<\/strong> and <strong>lack of clean water supply<\/strong> were the sources of cholera through his research. While most patients have <strong>mild diarrhea or limited symptoms,<\/strong> cholera also has the potential to <strong>kill within hours<\/strong>, especially among the <strong>young and vulnerable population<\/strong>. There are between <strong>1.3 and 4 million<\/strong> cases each year, with up to <strong>143,000 deaths annually<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Three vaccines<\/strong> have been developed, with <strong>20 million doses<\/strong> administered globally, typically in areas experiencing an <strong>outbreak<\/strong>. One of the <strong>major difficulties<\/strong> is that the <strong>treatment efficacy remains around the 50% mark<\/strong>, and the extent of vaccine coverage is relatively unknown. The focus now is on <strong>prevention <\/strong>by expanding access to <strong>clean water sources<\/strong>, educating the public to <strong>adopt hygiene practices<\/strong>, and <strong>increasing sanitation<\/strong> in areas where cholera is still rampant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"On_Past_and_Present_Diagnoses\"><\/span>On Past and Present Diagnoses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although these are arguably the <strong>top ten scariest medical diagnoses<\/strong> throughout history, many of them are now curable or treatable, lessening their effect. However, it\u2019s essential to understand the <strong>threat of diagnoses<\/strong> like these and the <strong>impacts at the time.<\/strong> Why? Understanding the past is often the key to unlocking the future and can provide direction on where <strong>research and resources<\/strong> are best directed. Staying up-to-date and understanding the past while <strong>informing yourself<\/strong> about <strong>current medical developments<\/strong> is often the key to <strong>preventing and treating diseases<\/strong> effectively.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Historic diseases like the <strong>Black Death<\/strong> caused massive numbers of deaths and social upheaval.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical advances such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Vaccinations\"><strong>vaccines<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-medical-advances-in-history#1_Antibiotics_Revolutionizing_the_treatment_of_infections\"><strong>antibiotics<\/strong><\/a> revolutionized disease control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understanding <strong>past epidemics<\/strong> informs <strong>modern public health strategies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social stigma<\/strong> and <strong>access to care<\/strong> remain challenges in <strong>infectious diseases<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ongoing <strong>innovation <\/strong>is vital to overcoming <strong>emerging health threats<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References_Resources\"><\/span>References &amp; Resources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21590-bubonic-plague\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21590-bubonic-plague<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/black-death-natural-selection-in-humans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/black-death-natural-selection-in-humans<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historytoday.com\/archive\/black-death-greatest-catastrophe-ever\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.historytoday.com\/archive\/black-death-greatest-catastrophe-ever<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/science\/article\/the-plague\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/science\/article\/the-plague<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Black-Death\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Black-Death<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/southeastasia\/news\/detail\/25-01-2019-eliminate-leprosy-related-discrimination-prejudice-and-stigma-to-end-leprosy-for-good\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/southeastasia\/news\/detail\/25-01-2019-eliminate-leprosy-related-discrimination-prejudice-and-stigma-to-end-leprosy-for-good<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/leprosy#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/leprosy#tab=tab_1<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/press-releases\/2018\/01\/time-end-leprosy-stigma-says-new-un-human-rights-expert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/press-releases\/2018\/01\/time-end-leprosy-stigma-says-new-un-human-rights-expert<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lshtm.ac.uk\/newsevents\/news\/2015\/financial_burden_leprosy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.lshtm.ac.uk\/newsevents\/news\/2015\/financial_burden_leprosy.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/smallpox\/about\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/smallpox\/about\/index.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/smallpox#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/smallpox#tab=tab_1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tb\/worldtbday\/history.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tb\/worldtbday\/history.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tb\/topic\/basics\/signsandsymptoms.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tb\/topic\/basics\/signsandsymptoms.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/syphilis\/painful-history-odd-bug\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/syphilis\/painful-history-odd-bug\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/syphilis#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/syphilis#tab=tab_1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/syphilis\/stdfact-syphilis.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/syphilis\/stdfact-syphilis.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/answers\/tertiary-syphilis\">https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/answers\/tertiary-syphilis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/poliomyelitis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/poliomyelitis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paho.org\/en\/who-we-are\/history-paho\/purple-death-great-flu-1918\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.paho.org\/en\/who-we-are\/history-paho\/purple-death-great-flu-1918<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/health-shots\/2012\/10\/16\/162670836\/wiping-out-polio-how-the-u-s-snuffed-out-a-killer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/health-shots\/2012\/10\/16\/162670836\/wiping-out-polio-how-the-u-s-snuffed-out-a-killer<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/polioeradication.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/polioeradication.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/immunization-coverage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/immunization-coverage<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/a-to-z-guides\/yellow-fever-symptoms-treatment#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/a-to-z-guides\/yellow-fever-symptoms-treatment#1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/yellowfever\/vaccine\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/yellowfever\/vaccine\/index.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/yellow-fever#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/yellow-fever#tab=tab_1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/library.missouri.edu\/specialcollections\/exhibits\/show\/in-flew-enza\/outbreak\/symptoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/library.missouri.edu\/specialcollections\/exhibits\/show\/in-flew-enza\/outbreak\/symptoms<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1997248\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1997248\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/exhibits\/influenza-epidemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/exhibits\/influenza-epidemic\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hiv\/basics\/hiv-stigma\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hiv\/basics\/hiv-stigma\/index.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/hiv-aids\/history#statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/hiv-aids\/history#statistics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hiv.gov\/hiv-basics\/overview\/history\/hiv-and-aids-timeline\/#year-1982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hiv.gov\/hiv-basics\/overview\/history\/hiv-and-aids-timeline\/#year-1982<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/hiv-aids#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/hiv-aids#tab=tab_1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals\/diseases\/cholera\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals\/diseases\/cholera<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8708586\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8708586\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cholera\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cholera<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cholera\/infection-sources.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cholera\/infection-sources.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ph.ucla.edu\/epi\/snow\/snowcricketarticle.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ph.ucla.edu\/epi\/snow\/snowcricketarticle.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/Blog_Display_Ads_MD1_2023.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/Blog_Display_Ads_MD1_2023.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/Blog_Display_Ads_MD1_2023.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Curious about Osmosis? Discover why millions of learners have turned to us as an alternative to old-school study techniques. Start your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/osmosis.org\/create\">free trial<\/a>&nbsp;today!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the most feared medical diagnoses in history and the scientific breakthroughs that have changed the landscape of treatment and prevention. From the Black Death to modern challenges like HIV\/AIDS, learn how these diseases have shaped public health and the importance of awareness and prevention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176,"featured_media":5518,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,22,23,42],"tags":[435,439,414,434,437,408,438,432,436,433],"class_list":["post-472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medicine","category-health-and-wellness","category-healthcare-facts","category-research","tag-black-death","tag-cholera","tag-heart-disease","tag-historical-diseases","tag-hiv-aids","tag-medical-history","tag-polio","tag-public-health","tag-syphilis","tag-tuberculosis"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Top 10 Scariest Medical Diagnoses Throughout History - Osmosis Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-top-10-scariest-medical-diagnoses-throughout-history\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Top 10 Scariest Medical Diagnoses Throughout History - Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the most feared medical diagnoses in history and the scientific breakthroughs that have changed the landscape of treatment and prevention. 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