Tsars’ diseases. Alexander I – his weakened organism was attacked by typhus

Historians dealing with Our Country emphasize that most of the tsars probably did not die naturally. They were poisoned or murdered. For those whose reign did not end in mysterious death, fate did not spare them either. Although the testimonies of contemporaries are usually ambiguous, several diseases have been identified that ended the life of the emperors. What was the cause of Alexander I’s death?

1. Alexander I Romanov, grandson of Catherine II the Great, lived in the years 1777-1825, became tsar in 1801
2. His death is not fully explained. In the nineteenth century, many wrote about his poisoning, but he probably died of typhus
3. Typhus is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract, and in some cases it is even 10% fatal.
4. More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.

How did the rulers die?

In the first part of the series devoted to the rulers, we described the case of Peter the Great. His health problems started when he was approaching forty. He was 53 when he died, and his groans and screams were heard all over the Winter Palace. The cause of death is kidney failure caused by alcoholism.

Then we looked at Catherine the Great, many myths surrounding her death. There were rumors that she gave up the ghost in the toilet, it was presumed that she had both a cerebral hemorrhage and a gallbladder rupture. Historical sources, however, are for a different reason. Read the article and learn more.

Alexander I Romanov – probably a victim of typhus

Alexander I, unlike Peter the Great and Tsarina Catherine II, did not live to be fifty. The ruler of Our Country in the years 1801–1825 strongly ignored a cold he contracted during a service in Taganrog in the south of the country, where he went because of his wife’s increasing ailments. Another disease attacked the weakened organism. Tsar died of typhus, he was 48 years old.

This cause of death is confirmed by numerous documents and testimonies of those present with his illness. Historians have also adopted this version. There is also a hypothesis that death was faked and that the tsar was a monk for the rest of his life. The evidence supporting this theory is the fact that the coffin with the ruler’s body was transported to Saint Petersburg for two months.

Typhus is a serious infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract that can be fatal. It is also called typhoid fever or dirty hands disease. You can get infected wherever the sewage is not treated properly or at all, i.e. in countries with low sanitary standards – in South Asia (India, Nepal), Southeast (Indonesia), South America (Peru) and North Africa and Western.

Typhus is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi that lives in water or food contaminated with the excretions of sick people or carriers of the bacteria. The disease can also be spread by insects, especially flies, which transfer bacteria from stool to food. You can also become infected through direct contact with a sick person or a carrier, if we do not follow the rules of hygiene (washing hands).

It is estimated that 22 million people develop typhoid every year, of which more than 200 suffer from typhoid fever. the disease is fatal. In Poland, for many years there have been only individual cases related to trips to the regions of typhus occurrence.

Typhus – symptoms

White language as a symptom of typhus is a myth. It is true, however, that the appearance of the tongue is characteristic – it is covered with a dry brown coating on the inside and sharply red at the edges.

The disease has three phases, each lasting about seven days. Symptoms in the first stage of the disease are not very characteristic:

1. fever that slowly rises up to 40 degrees C and then remains at this level;
2. general weakness;
3. apathy;
4. loss of appetite;
5. headaches;
6. stomach pain;
7. constipation;
8. flatulence;
9. diarrhea;
10. insomnia.

At the end of this phase, the patient may experience a slow heart rate (bradycardia), coughing, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and slowness of movement.

Symptoms in the second phase of the disease are:

1. persistent fever;
2. slow heart rate;
3. confusion, light-headedness;
4. the characteristic appearance of the tongue;
5. maculo-papular rash on the body (typhoid rubella);
6. enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes;
7. diarrhea or constipation.

When typhus continues to develop, complications arise:

1. gastrointestinal bleeding;
2. perforation of the small intestine;
3. peritonitis;
4. cholecystitis;
5. liver damage;
6. sepsis;
7. pneumonia;
8. inflammation of the urinary tract;
9. neuropsychiatric symptoms suggestive of schizophrenia;
10. endocarditis;
11. arthritis and bone inflammation.

It is in the third stage of complications that death occurs. It happens in about 10 percent. untreated people. Mainly in those with coexisting chronic diseases, or in debilitated, improperly nourished patients, young children and the elderly. In people who have been given antibiotics, the percentage of deaths is lower and amounts to approx. 2%.

Typhus – what is the treatment like?

The patients are subject to compulsory hospitalization, and they are given antibiotics. Adequate hydration and electrolyte replenishment are also important.

To prevent typhus, it is recommended to eat hot food and to peel fruit and vegetables. Do not drink beverages with ice or water of unknown origin. Boiled or originally bottled water is considered safe. You should also use bottled or boiled water to brush your teeth.

We can now get vaccinated against typhus. Vaccinations are recommended for people who go to particularly risky areas. Two types of vaccines are available – inactivated and polysaccharide.