Scarlet Fever-Jasmeiry

Chart of cause of deaths from 18-19th century 

When Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818, Europe was shaped by the fear, fear of the scientific development, but also fear of the disease, one illness that haunted families during this time period was scarlet fever, a contagious and often deadly infection that primary affected children. Although it's not directly named in the book "Frankenstein" understanding its impacts on early 18th and 19th century society helps readers understand the emotional intensity, grief, and the deaths caused by illnesses in the novel. The protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, has a cousin called Elizabeth, who becomes his adoptive sister, then who ultimately becomes his wife. Elizabeth contracts scarlet fever. Victor’s mother, Caroline, while nursing her adoptive daughter when she realizes how unwell she is and contracts scarlet fever herself after three days. In the book, Victor recalls that “her fever was accompanied by the most alarming symptoms” and although Elizabeth recovers, Caroline dies. Although she appeared healthy, she had undergone a period of sickness that "weakened her frame" and had been shaken since childhood, which scarlet fever is proven to affect young children(2). This seems a sudden death but is probably quite realistic. Set sometime in the eighteenth century in Geneva, the novel takes place in the pre-antibiotic era.

Rash caused by Scarlet Fever (2)

It was named for the erythematous skin rash that can be caused by the toxin produced by the bacteria streptococcal pyogenesis was fatal to infants' patients presented a rash all over their body, along with a sore throat, violent fever, vomiting, and swelling of the parotid glands. (1) Scarlet fever. It's one of the main diseases during the Victorian times (2). It can affect people of all ages, however the disease most often affects grade school kids and adolescent children. Due to the lack of an immunity system causing them to show side effects faster and are more deadly. The long-term effect on survivors often impacts their quality of life. While some individuals recover fully, many experience lasting health complications. The most common one was rheumatic fever, which could develop into a secondary condition. As well as having kidney damage, skin conditions, scarring or dermatitis, and growth issues, children, particularly, could experience delayed growth and physical development if they had severe infections. (3)

In September 2022, there was an outbreak of scarlet fever in children in Europe. There have also been documented cases in the U.S. This outbreak killed 13 children under the age of 15 in England since. Between September and November 2022, public health agencies in England reported 4,622 cases, higher than the previous 5-year average of 1,294(1). In the past 5 years, 14,000 to 25,000 cases of invasive group A strep disease, which is related to scarlet fever,  have occurred in the U.S., and 1,500-3,000 people die yearly from these infections(1). Children may be impacted more due to the decrease in immunity stimulated by group A streptococcal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Work Cited

1.Andrea Prinzi, Ph.D. “Scarlet Fever: A Deadly History and How It Prevails.” ASM.Org, 24 Jan. 2023, asm.org/articles/2023/january/scarlet-fever-a-deadly-history-and-how-it-prevails.

2.Boyle, Emily. “Scarlet Letters: The Depiction of Scarlet Fever in Literature.” Hektoen International, 28 Apr. 2020, hekint.org/2020/04/28/scarlet-letters-the-depiction-of-scarlet-fever-in-literature/.

3.Stephen, Grove. “Scarlet Fever Epidemics: Impact & Devastation in 19th Century.” 19th Century, 10 Jan. 2026, 19thcentury.us/scarlet-fever-epidemics-in-the-19th-century/.