Common Diseases

Below are common diseases found on death records and that I have compiled through my genealogy research.

ablepsy - blindness

acute bronchitis

acute coronary insufficiency

acute dilation of heart (heart attack)

acute influenza

acute myocarditis chagas heart disease

acute pericarditis

acute pulmonary edema

adenocarcinoma of the stomach the most common type of stomach cancer, accounting for almost all cancers that start in the stomach

age

agranulocytosis

ague - malarial fever

alzheimer's disease

american plague - yellow fever

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (muscular dystrophy)

anasarca - generalized massive edema

angina, severe angina pectoris or simply angina

aortic regurgitation

aphonia - laryngitis

aphtha - the infant disease "thrush"

apoplexy stroke a stroke that happens quickly, it can also occur by a blood clot in a brain blood vessel; subarachnoid hemorrhage or stroke are sometimes called apoplexy

appendicitis

arteriosclerosis general

arteriosclerotic heart disease, chronic

ashd arteriosclerotic heart disease (ashd)

asphycsia/asphicsia - cyanotic and lack of oxygen

aspiration pneumonia

atelectasis (collapsed lung), unknown etiology

atrial fibrillation with renal insufficiency

atrophy - wasting away or diminishing in size.

bacillary dysentery

bad blood - syphilis

bilateral pleural effusion

bilateral renal calculi

bilious fever - typhoid, malaria, hepatitis or elevated temperature and bile emesis

biliousness - jaundice associated with liver disease

black fever - acute infection with high temperature and dark red skin lesions and high mortality rate

black plague or death - bubonic plague

black pox - black small pox

black vomit - vomiting old black blood due to ulcers or yellow fever

blackwater fever - dark urine associated with high temperature

bladder in throat - diphtheria (seen on death certificates)

blood poisoning - bacterial infection; septicemia

bloody flux - bloody stools

bloody sweat - sweating sickness

bone shave - sciatica

brain fever - meningitis, encephalitis

brain tumor

breakbone - dengue fever

breech presentation

bright's disease - chronic inflammatory disease of kidneys

bronchial pneumonia or bronchopneumonia affects patches throughout both lungs

bronchiectasis

bronchogenic carcinoma (small cell lung cancer)

bronze john - yellow fever

bule - boil, tumor or swelling

cachexy - malnutrition

cacogastric - upset stomach

cacospysy - irregular pulse

caduceus - subject to falling sickness or epilepsy

camp fever - typhus; aka camp diarrhea

cancer

cancer cachexia metabolic disorder that causes weight loss and muscle wasting; cachexia is most common in people with advanced pancreatic and lung cancer; but it can also occur in people with other types of cancer, including head and neck, colorectal, ovarian, and liver cancers

cancer of the face

canine madness - rabies, hydrophobia

canker - ulceration of mouth or lips or herpes simplex

carbolic acid

carcinoma

carcinoma of breast (right)

carcinoma of lung (with metastasis)

carcinoma of mouth

carcinoma of stomach

carcinoma of the colon (large colon)

carcinoma of the liver

carcinoma of the ovary

carcinomatosis a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells from a primary tumor spread to other parts of the body, forming multiple tumors

cardiac arrest

cardiac arrhythmia

cardiac decompensation a stage of heart failure

cardio renal failure

cardio respiratory failure

cardiomegaly left bundle branch block

cardiopulmonary fibrosis disease

cardio-renal syndrome a condition that affects both the heart and kidneys

cardiovascular collapse

cardiovascular disease

catalepsy - seizures / trances

catarrhal - nose and throat discharge from cold or allergy

catarrhal pneumonia a disease that begins with catarrh, or inflammation of the mucous membranes in the airways or cavities of the bod

cerebral apoplexy stroke cerebral apoplexy with secondary hypertrophy prostatic death

cerebral arteriosclerosis

cerebral embolism

cerebral hemorrhage

cerebral thrombosis

cerebral vascular accident (cva)

cerebritis - inflammation of cerebrum or lead poisoning

chilblain - swelling of extremities caused by exposure to cold

child bed fever - infection following birth of a child

chin cough - whooping cough

chlorosis - iron deficiency anemia

cholecystitus - inflammation of the gall bladder (acute)

cholelithiasis - gall stones

cholera - acute severe contagious diarrhea with intestinal lining sloughing

cholera morbus - characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, elevated temperature, etc. could be appendicitis

chorea - disease characterized by convulsions, contortions and dancing

chronic & recurrent hepatitis

chronic arteriosclerosis

chronic bronchitis

chronic bronchopulmonary disease

chronic glomerulonephritis

chronic lateral nephritis

chronic lymphocytic leukemia

chronic myocarditis

chronic pain syndrome arteriosus

chronic pyelonephritis chronic pyelonephritis is continuing pyogenic infection of the kidney that occurs almost exclusively in patients with major anatomic abnormalities. symptoms may be absent or may include fever, malaise, and flank pain. diagnosis is with urinalysis, culture, and imaging test

chronic thrombophlebitis (blood clot)

cirrhosis of the liver

cognitive impairment

cold plague - ague which is characterized by chills

colic - an abdominal pain and cramping

condylar fracture (right femur)

congenital cardiac weakness also known as congenital heart disease (chd), refers to heart defects present at birth

congestion - any collection of fluid in an organ, like the lungs

congestive chills - malaria

congestive chills - malaria with diarrhea

congestive fever - malaria

congestive heart failure,

consumption - tuberculosis

coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease decompensated heart failure

coronary artery disease

coronary occlusion (resulting in a heart attack)

coronary sclorsis

coronary thrombosis

corruption - infection

coryza - a cold

costiveness - constipation

cramp colic - appendicitis

crop sickness - overextended stomach

croup - laryngitis, diphtheria, or strep throat

cyanosis - dark skin color from lack of oxygen in blood

cynanche - diseases of throat

cystitis - inflammation of the bladder

day fever - fever lasting one day; sweating sickness

debilitas

debility - lack of movement or staying in bed

decrepitude - feebleness due to old age

degenerative heart disease with demyelination

dehydration and electrolyte imbalance

delirium tremens - hallucinations due to alcoholism

dementia chronic organic brain syndrome (long term)

dengue - infectious fever endemic to east africa

dentition - cutting of teeth

deplumation - tumor of the eyelids which causes hair loss

diabetes mellitus

diabetic ketoacidosis

diarrhea

diary fever - a fever that lasts one day

diffuse mestatis

diptheria - contagious disease of the throat

disseminated sclerosis ms

distemper - usually animal disease with malaise, discharge from nose and throat, anorexia

dock fever - yellow fever

dropsy

dropsy - edema (swelling), often caused by kidney or heart disease

dropsy of the brain - encephalitis

dry bellyache - lead poisoning

dyscrasy - an abnormal body condition

dysentery - inflammation of colon with frequent passage of mucous and blood

dysorexy - reduced appetite

dyspepsia - indigestion and heartburn. heart attack symptoms

dysury - difficulty in urination

eclampsy - symptoms of epilepsy, convulsions during labor

ecstasy - a form of catalepsy characterized by loss of reason

edema - nephrosis; swelling of tissues

edema of lungs - congestive heart failure, a form of dropsy

eel thing - erysipelas

elephantiasis - a form of leprosy

emphysema

empyema of gallbladder empyema of the gallbladder is a serious disorder that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. the infection can quickly become systemic and cause multiple organ failure. the condition is best managed by an interprofessional team. most patients require aggressive hydration, iv antibiotics, and surgery.

encephalitis - swelling of brain; aka sleeping sickness

endocarditis, acute

enteric fever - typhoid fever

enteritis - inflations of the bowels

enterocolitis - inflammation of the intestines

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis

epilepsy

epitaxis - nose bleed

epithelioma (contributing epithelial cancer cells, lung metastatic)

erysipelas - contagious skin disease, due to streptococci with vesicular and bulbous lesions, bacterial skin infection, st. anthony’s fire

extravasted blood - rupture of a blood vessel

falling sickness - epilepsy

fatty liver - cirrhosis of liver

fibrosis

fits - sudden attack or seizure of muscle activity

flux - an excessive flow or discharge of fluid like hemorrhage or diarrhea

flux of humour - circulation

fracture of left hip

fractured thigh

french pox - syphilis

gall bladder disease

gangrene due to embolism

gastrectomy

gastroesophageal carcinoma

gastrointestinal bleeding

gastrostomy feeding tube

gathering - a collection of pus

glandular fever - mononucleosis

great pox - syphilis

green fever / sickness - anemia

grippe/grip - influenza like symptoms

grocer's itch - skin disease caused by mites in sugar or flour

heart ailment

heart failure

heart sickness - condition caused by loss of salt from body

heat stroke - body temperature elevates because of surrounding environment temperature and body does not perspire to reduce temperature. coma and death result if not reversed

hectical complaint - recurrent fever

hematemesis - vomiting blood

hematuria - bloody urine

hemiplegia paralysis

hemiplegia right side

hemiplegy - paralysis of one side of body

high blood pressure

hip gout - osteomylitis

horrors - delirium tremens

hydrocephalus - enlarged head, water on the brain

hydropericardium - heart dropsy

hydrophobia - rabies

hydrothroax - dropsy in chest

hypertension

hypertensive arteriolar nephrosclerosis progressive kidney damage caused by long-standing, poorly controlled hypertension

hypertensive cardiovascular heart disease

hypertrophic - enlargement of organ, like the heart

hypostatic pneumonia

impetigo - contagious skin disease characterized by pustules

inanition physical condition resulting from lack of food

inanition - physical condition resulting from lack of food

infantile paralysis - polio intestinal colic abdominal pain due to improper diet

inflammation of the brain

injuries received during birth

inoperable cancer of the jaw

intercondylaris and fracture of left femur intercondylar fractures of the femur are difficult injuries to treat because of the thin cortices and other factors

interstitial heart disease

interstitial nephritis chronic

intestinal obstruction aka bowel congestion

intracranial hemorrhage

involutional melancholia historical term, agitated depression that was thought to occur during middle age, particularly in women around menopause, presently known as major depressive disorder

jail fever - typhus

jaundice - condition caused by blockage of intestines

king's evil - tuberculosis of neck and lymph glands

kruchhusten - whooping cough

lagrippe - influenza.

laryngeal tuberculosis laryngeal tuberculosis (ltb) is a rare, highly contagious, and highly infectious form of tuberculosis that can affect the larynx

leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

liver metastases

lobar pneumonia one or more sections (lobes) of the lungs

lockjaw - tetanus or infectious disease affecting the muscles of the neck and jaw. untreated, it is fatal in 8 days.

long pneumonia "long pneumonia," often referred to as chronic or recurrent pneumonia, describes pneumonia that lasts more than 6 weeks or recurs frequently. recovery from even typical pneumonia can take weeks, with severe cases potentially extending the recovery period to months

long sickness - tuberculosis.

lues disease - syphilis.

lues venera - venereal disease.

lumbago - back pain.

lung fever - pneumonia

lung sickness - tuberculosis

lung tumor

lying in - time of delivery of infant.

lymphosarcoma

malaria hematuria

malignant sore throat - diphtheria.

malignant tumor in colon

malnutrition

mania - insanity.

marasmus - progressive wasting away of body, like malnutrition.

membranous - croup diphtheria

meningitis - inflations of brain or spinal cord

metastasis diffuse lung (stage 4)

metastatic carcinoma

metastatic rectal cancer

metritis - inflammation of uterus or purulent vaginal discharge

miasma - poisonous vapors thought to infect the air

milk fever - disease from drinking contaminated milk, like undulant fever or brucellosis

milk leg - post partum thrombophlebitis

milk sickness - disease from milk of cattle which had eaten poisonous weeds

mitral valve regurgitation

mormal - gangrene

morphew - scurvy blisters on the body

mortification - gangrene of necrotic tissue

myelitis - inflammation of the spine

myocardial degeneration a cardiovascular disorder that occurs when the myocardium, the middle layer of the heart wall, loses its normal structure or function

myocardial infarction (myocardial failure)

myocarditis - inflammation of heart muscles

natural causes

necrosis - mortification of bones or tissue

nephritis

nephrosis - kidney degeneration

nepritis - inflammation of kidneys

nervous attack, fatal in the 1900s wasn't a recognized cause of death, the condition known as neurasthenia (outdated term, primarily from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, closely related to modern conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia), or americanitis, was prevalent

nervous prostration - extreme exhaustion from inability to control physical and mental activities

neuralgia - described as discomfort, such as "headache" was neuralgia in head

nostalgia - homesickness.

osteonecrosis also known as avascular necrosis, of the tibia (the shin bone) occurs when the bone's blood supply is disrupted, leading to bone cell death

palsy - paralysis or uncontrolled movement of controlled muscles. it was listed as "cause of death"

paralysis due to hemorrhage of the brain

parkinson's

paroxysm - convulsion

pemphigus - skin disease of watery blisters

pericarditis - inflammation of heart

peripheral arterial thrombosis

peripneumonia - inflammation of lungs

peritonotis - inflammation of abdominal area

pernicious anemia

petechial fever - fever characterized by skin spotting puerperal exhaustion death due to child birth

phthiriasis - lice infestation phthisis chronic wasting away or a name for tuberculosis

plague - an acute febrile highly infectious disease with a high fatality rate

pleurisy - any pain in the chest area with each breath

pneumococcal arthritis a form of septic arthritis caused by the bacteria streptococcus pneumoniae

pneumonia

podagra - gout

poliomyelitis - polio

potter's asthma - fibroid pthisis

pott's disease - tuberculosis of spine

premature birth

puerperal convulsion or puerperal eclampsia

puerperal exhaustion - death due to childbirth

puerperal fever - elevated temperature after giving birth to an infant, a postpartum infection that occurs in women after childbirth

puking fever - milk sickness

pulmonary edema

pulmonary embolism sudden blockage in your pulmonary arteries, the blood vessels that send blood to your lungs

pulmonary embolus blood clot that travels to another part of your body is called an embolus

pulmonary tuberculosis (and interstitial)

putrid fever - diphtheria.

quinsy - tonsillitis.

recurrent and metastatic carcinoma

remitting fever - malaria

renal failure (chronic)

rhabdomyosarcoma (rms) rare soft tissue cancer

rheumatism

rheumatism - any disorder associated with pain in joints rickets disease of skeletal system

right heart failure (rhf) right heart failure (rhf) is a clinical syndrome in which symptoms and signs are caused by dysfunction of the right heart structures (predominantly the right ventricle [rv], but also the tricuspid valve apparatus and right atrium) or impaired vena cava flow, resulting in impaired ability of the right heart to perfuse

rose cold - hay fever or nasal symptoms of an allergy.

rotanny fever - (child's disease) ???

rubeola - german measles

ruptured aneurysm (subarachnoid hemorrhage)

sanguineous crust - scab

scarlatina - scarlet fever

scarlet fever - a disease characterized by red rash

scarlet rash - roseola

sciatica rheumatism in the hips

scirrhus - cancerous tumors

scotomy - dizziness, nausea and dimness of sight

screws - rheumatism

scrivener's palsy - writer's cramp

scrofula - tuberculosis of neck lymph glands. progresses slowly with abscesses and fistulas develop. young person's disease

scrumpox - skin disease, impetigo

scurvy - lack of vitamin c. symptoms of weakness, spongy gums and hemorrhages under skin

senile gangrene gangrene due to lack of blood supply resulting from sclerosis of blood vessels

senility

sepsis

septicemia - blood poisoning

severe aortic valve stenosis (cardiac dilation)

severe osteopetrosis of dorsal vertebrae

shakes - delirium tremens

shaking - chills, ague

shingles - viral disease with skin blisters

ship fever - typhus

siriasis - inflammation of the brain due to sun exposure

sloes - milk sickness small pox contagious disease with fever and blisters softening of brain result of stroke or hemorrhage in the brain, with an end result of the tissue softening in that area

sore throat distemper - diphtheria or quinsy

spanish influenza - epidemic influenza

spasms - sudden involuntary contraction of muscle or group of muscles, like a convulsion

spina bifida - deformity of spine

spotted fever - either typhus or meningitis

sprue - tropical disease characterized by intestinal disorders and sore throat

st. anthony's fire - also erysipelas, but named so because of affected skin areas are bright red in appearance

st. vitas dance - ceaseless occurrence of rapid complex jerking movements performed involuntary

status asthmaticus respiratory failure that comes with the worst form of acute severe asthma, or an asthma attack

still born

stomatitis - inflammation of the mouth

stranger's fever - yellow fever

strangery - rupture

strep septicemia

subdermal hemorrhage (traumatic brain injury)

sudor anglicus - sweating sickness

summer complaint - diarrhea, usually in infants caused by spoiled milk.

sunstroke - uncontrolled elevation of body temperature due to environment heat. lack of sodium in the body is a predisposing cause.

surgical removal of the stomach and connecting the esophagus to the small intestine, usually done to prevent spread of stomach cancer.

swamp sickness - could be malaria, typhoid or encephalitis

sweating sickness - infectious and fatal disease common to uk in 15th century

terminal pneumonia

testicular seminoma (testicular cancer, rare cancer)

tetanus - infectious fever characterized by high fever, headache and dizziness

thrombosis - blood clot inside blood vessel

thrombosis popliteal blood clot develops in the popliteal vein. the popliteal vein runs behind the knee and is one of several blood vessels that carry blood from the leg into the inferior vena cava, which is a large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart

thrush - childhood disease characterized by spots on mouth, lips and throat

tick fever - rocky mountain spotted fever

toxemia of pregnancy - eclampsia

trench mouth - painful ulcers found along gum line, caused by poor nutrition and poor hygiene

tuberculosis (of the respiratory system)

tuberculous abscess of the spine rare complication of tuberculosis (tb) that occurs when the m. tuberculosis bacteria cause pus to collect in the tissues

tussis convulsiva - whooping cough

typhoid fever

typhus - infectious fever characterized high fever, headache, and dizziness

ulcerative endocarditis

umbilical cord accident

uncinariasus (parasitic worm diseases) typically in the small intestine

uremia

uremic poisoning

uterine cancer

valvular heart disease

variola - smallpox

venesection - bleeding

ventricular fibrillation

viper's dance - st. vitus dance

water on brain - enlarged head

white swelling - tuberculosis of the bone

winter fever - pneumonia

womb fever - infection of the uterus.

worm fit - convulsions associated with teething, worms, elevated temperature or diarrhea.

Transcribed by County Coordinator, Kimberly Taylor Morgan and old diseases found on death certificates USGenWeb