‘Dickensian diseases’ are making a comeback in the UK

By Jack Guy, CNN
Published 11:06 AM EST, Sat February 2, 2019
In the 19th century, scarlet fever was a common killer in Europe. In 2016, nearly 20,000 cases were reported in the United Kingdom -- the biggest increase in 50 years.<br /><br />Scarlet fever is just one disease that many have forgotten but that is by no means gone, despite our best efforts to eliminate it.
In the 19th century, scarlet fever was a common killer in Europe. In 2016, nearly 20,000 cases were reported in the United Kingdom -- the biggest increase in 50 years.

Scarlet fever is just one disease that many have forgotten but that is by no means gone, despite our best efforts to eliminate it.
Badobadop/Wikipedia
Though it's often thought of as a medieval disease, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 global cases of plague every year. The US averages seven new human cases a year, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/index.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">mostly in the Southwest</a>. Pictured, a patient with gangrene and necrosis, caused by plague.<br />
Though it's often thought of as a medieval disease, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 global cases of plague every year. The US averages seven new human cases a year, mostly in the Southwest. Pictured, a patient with gangrene and necrosis, caused by plague.
CDC / Dr. Jack Poland
This 19-year-old girl in Neijiang, China, is being carried in a basket because she has rickets. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which we get from sunlight. Experts believe rickets is making a comeback in developed countries because of the use of sunscreen and less time spent outdoors.
This 19-year-old girl in Neijiang, China, is being carried in a basket because she has rickets. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which we get from sunlight. Experts believe rickets is making a comeback in developed countries because of the use of sunscreen and less time spent outdoors.
China Photos/Getty Images
Gout was once known as the "disease of kings" because of its links to excessive food and alcohol consumption. These days, unhealthy lifestyles are behind an increase in gout in developed countries.
Gout was once known as the "disease of kings" because of its links to excessive food and alcohol consumption. These days, unhealthy lifestyles are behind an increase in gout in developed countries.
The deadly disease diphtheria affects the nose and throat. Vaccinations mean it is now rare in developed countries, but in 2011, nearly 5,000 cases were reported to the WHO, with many more probably unreported.<br />
The deadly disease diphtheria affects the nose and throat. Vaccinations mean it is now rare in developed countries, but in 2011, nearly 5,000 cases were reported to the WHO, with many more probably unreported.
NOAH SEELAM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
There were 216,000 global cases of leprosy, an ancient and disfiguring disease, in 2013.
There were 216,000 global cases of leprosy, an ancient and disfiguring disease, in 2013.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images
Although there is a pertussis vaccine, there were an <a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/pertussis/en/" target="_blank" target="_blank">estimated 16 million global cases</a> of whooping cough in 2008, killing about 195,000 children.
Although there is a pertussis vaccine, there were an estimated 16 million global cases of whooping cough in 2008, killing about 195,000 children.
James Gathany/CDC
In April 2015, the Americas became the first region to eliminate rubella; the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rubella/about/in-the-us.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says</a> there are fewer than 10 cases each year.<strong> </strong>But globally, about <a href="https://measlesrubellainitiative.org/resources/advocacy-tools/2017-fact-sheet/" target="_blank" target="_blank">110,000 babies</a> are born with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/08/health/rubella-house-zika-babies-future/index.html">congenital rubella syndrome</a> every year.
In April 2015, the Americas became the first region to eliminate rubella; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are fewer than 10 cases each year. But globally, about 110,000 babies are born with congenital rubella syndrome every year.
CDC.gov
TB, or tuberculosis, is one of the top 10 killers in the world, according to the WHO. In 2016, 10.4 million people around the globe contracted tuberculosis, and more than 1.7 million died. Ninety-five percent of those <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/24/health/tuberculosis-cambodia-tb-day-photos/index.html">deaths were in developing countries</a>.
TB, or tuberculosis, is one of the top 10 killers in the world, according to the WHO. In 2016, 10.4 million people around the globe contracted tuberculosis, and more than 1.7 million died. Ninety-five percent of those deaths were in developing countries.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images/File
Vaccination programs mean polio is on the verge of extinction -- but there are still cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Vaccination programs mean polio is on the verge of extinction -- but there are still cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Courtesy UNICEF
10 diseases you thought were gone
London CNN  — 

New research shows that cases of diseases more commonly associated with the Victorian era are increasing in the UK.

Since 2010, hospital visits for scarlet fever, malnutrition, whooping cough and gout are up 3,000 per year, representing a 52% increase.

“It’s very concerning that these conditions, associated with a bygone era, seem to be on the resurgence,” said Helen Donovan, professional lead for public health at the Royal College of Nursing, in a statement.

Characteristic red cheeks and rash of scarlet fever
Characteristic red cheeks and rash of scarlet fever
Badobadop/Wikipedia

Health agency warns UK parents as scarlet fever cases soar

Data from the UK National Health Service shows that diagnoses of scarlet fever, a leading cause of infant death in the early 1900s, have increased from 429 in 2010-2011 to 1,321 in 2017-2018, a 208% increase.

Whooping cough was nearly eliminated in the UK after a nationwide vaccination program in the 1950s but hospital admissions were up 59% from 2010-2018.

During the same time period, hospital admissions for malnutrition and gout also increased, 54% and 38%, respectively.

The figures were released by the opposition Labour party after researchers analyzed NHS data.

“Dickensian diseases on the rise in Tory Britain today,” said Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary, in a statement.

Ashworth blamed government spending cuts, known as austerity, for the development.

“The damning truth is austerity is making our society sicker,” he said. “It means the poor die younger.”

Donovan, who is an independent expert, also said that government spending cuts are partly to blame.

An obese couple walk in a park near Montmartre, in Paris, France.
An obese couple walk in a park near Montmartre, in Paris, France.
shutterstock

How the UK plans to help its citizens live 5 years longer

“There are many reasons behind this but one thing that cannot be ignored is the effect of sustained cuts to local authority public health budgets which have caused the services that screen, prevent and protect against illness, and promote good hygiene, to be scaled back,” she said.

Donovan joined Ashworth in criticizing the effects of these cuts.

“As a result, people at risk of diseases we thought were a thing of the past will continue slip through the cracks,” she said. “The government should accept its responsibility for failing the most vulnerable in our society and commit to investing properly in vital public health services.”

Under the UK health care system, access to medical services is supposed to be universal, but regional variations in life expectancy revealed by the research suggest that this is not the case.

“We are facing a national emergency as widening health inequalities blight the land,” Ashworth said.

Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter

Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We’re committed to giving everyone five extra years of healthy, independent life by 2035 and reducing the gap between the rich and poor. We’ve already made progress, with cancer survival at a record high and smoking rates at an all-time low.

“We’re committed to ensuring everyone gets the same great health care no matter where they live, which is why our Long Term Plan for the NHS puts tackling health inequalities at its heart.”