Ancient history

What age did Victorian people die and from what?

In the Victorian era, the average life expectancy was much lower than it is today, with many people dying before the age of 50. There were a number of factors that contributed to this, including:

- Poor sanitation: Victorian cities were often overcrowded and unsanitary, with sewage running in the streets and poor drainage. This led to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and smallpox, which could be fatal.

- Lack of medical knowledge: Victorian doctors had a limited understanding of medicine and often relied on outdated or ineffective treatments. This meant that many people died from diseases that could have been prevented or cured if proper treatment had been available.

- Malnutrition: Many people in the Victorian era were poor and malnourished, making them more susceptible to disease.

- High rates of infant mortality: Many babies and young children died from diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

Here are some of the most common causes of death in the Victorian era:

- Cholera: Cholera is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. It was widespread in the Victorian era due to the lack of clean drinking water and sanitation.

- Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It was one of the leading causes of death in the Victorian era, particularly among young people.

- Smallpox: Smallpox is a viral infection that causes a rash and fever. It was a common disease in the Victorian era before the introduction of the smallpox vaccine.

- Typhoid fever: Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that causes fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It was spread through contaminated food and water.

- Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It was a common cause of death in the Victorian era, particularly among young children and the elderly.

Thanks to improvements in sanitation, public health, and medical knowledge, life expectancy has increased dramatically since the Victorian era. In the United Kingdom, the average life expectancy is now 82 years for women and 79 years for men.