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Darwin's illness: a final diagnosis

Fernando Orrego1, Carlos Quintana

  • 1Origin of Living Beings, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago 6782468, Chile. forrego@uandes.cl

Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London
|June 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Charles Darwin likely had Crohn's disease, affecting his upper small intestine. This diagnosis explains many of his lifelong symptoms, including abdominal pain and fatigue, with a chronic, relapsing course.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Medical History

Background:

  • Charles Darwin experienced a debilitating, lifelong illness with varied symptoms.
  • Numerous publications and personal writings detail his health struggles.

Discussion:

  • Re-examination of Darwin's medical history and correspondence suggests Crohn's disease as the most fitting diagnosis.
  • The proposed location in the upper small intestine aligns with reported gastrointestinal, articular, and neurological symptoms.
  • This diagnosis accounts for the chronic, relapsing nature of his illness and its onset during his lifetime.

Key Insights:

  • Crohn's disease explains Darwin's upper abdominal pain, flatulence, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and articular/neurological issues.
  • The illness's relapsing course, onset, and age-related decrease are consistent with Crohn's disease.
  • Cutaneous symptoms remain unexplained by this diagnosis.

Outlook:

  • Further research could explore potential triggers or co-existing conditions for Darwin's cutaneous symptoms.
  • This re-evaluation offers a unified explanation for many of Darwin's complex health issues.
  • The study refutes previously proposed diagnoses like Chagas' disease and psychiatric conditions.

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