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Vampirism May Be Explained With Modern Medical Science
Vampire stories are widespread throughout medieval history. Some stories date back to the 12th century. It's possible that these early stories of vampires were created by real medical circumstances.
Porphyria
There are numerous classifications of porphyria. Four of the classifications have symptoms of sunlight aversion: Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT), Protoporphyria or Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP), Variegate Porphyria, and Congenital Erythropoetic Porphyria (C.E.P.). Additional symptoms include hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth), red and sometimes bloody gums, and brown teeth. These symptoms coincide with many vampire tales. Still, victims of porphyria don't desire or consume blood.
Catalepsy
Catalepsy is a tactile malady defined by a decreased sensitivity to stimuli in addition to muscular rigidity. Subjects with catalepsy don't act in response to outside stimuli. They are aware of their environment but they can't speak or move. Episodes of catalepsy may span for several minutes or for many hours or days.
In acute cases, a subject that is suffering from a cataleptic attack will seem dead. Indications of life can solely be detected by means of modern medical instruments. Medieval patients with catalepsy might have been laid to rest while still alive. Later, when patients recaptured their muscular control patients most certainly would have tried to free themselves from their grave site. Some vampire legends describe clamoring coming from freshly buried coffins. After local townspeople exhumed these graves and opened them, claw marks were found on the inside, leading villagers to deduce that vampires were trying to free themselves from their graves.
Anemia
Anemia is a disease defined by the blood not having enough healthy red blood cells. Because red blood cells move oxygen throughout the body, symptoms incorporate fatigue, loss of appetite, vertigo, and weakness. These symptoms are caused by the body's organs not getting enough oxygen. These symptoms also match the symptoms of vampire victims in traditional tales. Anemia is a very common disease.
Rabies
Bats and Wolves both are oftentimes connected with vampires. They are traditional carriers of rabies. This disease has characteristics that look like vampirism. Hyper-sensitivity, a malady of rabies, might result in light or garlic distaste. Other characteristics encompass becoming nocturnal as a result of abnormal sleep patterns and hyper-sexuality. Rabies is passed on by biting, and victims of this disease are oftentimes witnessed frothing at the mouth with blood.
Conclusion
Today's medical science might explain some of Europe's medieval vampire tales. Rabies, porphyria, anemia, and catalepsy are all probable reasons for early vampire myths. People of the period that were short on medical education wouldn't comprehend these conditions and their symptoms. The result might be the vampire myths that ran rampant throughout Europe in the middle ages.
Article Source: http://www.collectibles-articles.com
Gen Wright is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network with a vampire theme. He also contributes to the Dark Network, a network of paranormal, supernatural, and darker websites.
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