The Sweating Sickness was a devastating epidemic that repeatedly swept through England during the Tudor period. It earned its name from the profuse perspiration it induced in its victims. Characterized by sudden onset and a high mortality rate, often leading to death within hours, this disease created widespread fear.
Identifying the Sweating Sickness
The Sweating Sickness presented with unique clinical characteristics. Symptoms began abruptly with sudden chills, dizziness, severe headache, and intense pains in the neck, shoulders, and limbs. This initial cold stage typically lasted 30 minutes to three hours, followed by the defining hot and sweating phase.
During this stage, victims experienced profuse, foul-smelling perspiration, fever, rapid pulse, and heart palpitations. Delirium or an overwhelming urge to sleep often accompanied these symptoms, with death frequently occurring within 3 to 18 hours of the first signs. A notable characteristic was the absence of visible signs like rashes or sores.
Its Reign in Tudor England
The Sweating Sickness appeared in England as a series of epidemics during the Tudor era, from the late 15th to the mid-16th century. The first major outbreak emerged in 1485, coinciding with Henry VII’s ascension to the throne. Subsequent epidemics occurred in 1508, 1517, 1528, and 1551, primarily affecting England. While largely confined to England, the 1528 outbreak spread to parts of continental Europe, including Hamburg, Scandinavia, and areas eastward to Lithuania, largely sparing France and Italy, except for English-controlled Calais. A striking feature of these outbreaks was their rapid appearance and equally swift disappearance from affected towns, typically lasting only a few weeks before receding.
The Terror and Its Impact
The Sweating Sickness generated immense terror due to its rapid and unpredictable nature, profoundly impacting Tudor society. Its sudden onset, where a person could be well at dinner and dead by supper, caused widespread panic. This fear prompted many, particularly the wealthy and nobility, to flee infected urban areas for the countryside, as seen with Henry VIII. The disease disrupted daily life, commerce, and royal court activities, with Henry VIII moving frequently to avoid contagion. Physicians of the era had no effective treatments, increasing the societal impact.
Modern Explanations and Disappearance
Modern medical theories attempt to explain the cause of the Sweating Sickness, though its true etiology remains unconfirmed. Hypotheses suggest it may have been a hantavirus infection, spread by rodents, or a type of relapsing fever transmitted by lice and ticks. Some symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, such as sudden onset fever and pulmonary edema, align with historical descriptions. However, these theories face challenges, including apparent human-to-human transmission in historical accounts and the lack of a characteristic rash often associated with relapsing fever. The disease’s eventual disappearance after the 1551 outbreak remains a mystery, leaving scientists to speculate whether it mutated into a milder form or simply vanished.