Egypt Diseases in medical anthropology are studied from a historical and comparative perspective. The diseases of the ancient Egyptian mummies give us an insight into the past. Diagnosis is difficult but considerable success is achieved in unearthing past afflictions.
River Nile had a great influence on the Ancient Egyptian Diseases. The health conditions and the diseases suffered by the people of ancient Egypt depended on the Nile since it was the primary source of water. The water from the Nile was used for drinking, cooking, and washing.
The proof of diseases suffered by the people of Ancient Egypt may be divided into three categories:
1. Skeletons and remains of mummies
2. Depictions of curing in official art
3. Manuscripts in cursive hieratic
Ancient Egyptian Diseases are given below:
Diseases of ancient Egypt are known through the evidence on bones.
1. Anaemia – Ancient Egyptian skulls are often seen having marks or small holes on top of the eye sockets which is due to iron deficiency. Iron deficiency causes Anaemia. Bloodsucking parasites like hookworm could also have caused iron deficiency causing Anaemia. Detail of Anaemic Lesions in the eye sockets has led to this conclusion.
2. Arthritis – Arthritis is a disease which affects the musculoskeletal system of a human being. This is caused due to aging. The bones of Ancient Egyptians have to lip at their edges which proves that they were suffering from to maintain proper posterity.
3. Dental Diseases – The most important problem for Ancient Egyptians was attrition (wear). Both the pharaohs and the common farmer had the same course diet. The wear was so extensive that the dentin and enamel would wear away.
This resulted in chronic pain as it exposed the pulp. The Egyptian dentitions drained the abscesses through the hollow reed. This was the remedy for them to prevent any dental disease.
Ancient Egyptian diseases are known through analysis
These can be divided into two types:
1. Congenital Disorders
Ancient Egyptian skeletons are an important source of achondroplasia.
2. Acquired Disorders in ancient Egypt
Tuberculosis – One of the earliest evidence of tuberculosis were found in Ancient Egyptian mummies. Several related types of tubercle bacilli were found. Human strain and bacilli threatened lives of ancient Egyptians. Tuberculosis, it is believed was acquired from the livestock.
Scorpian or serpent bites were a major cause of illness.
The study of the mummified remains has found kidney stones.
Parasitic Diseases – When people used to wade through water parasites such as Schistosoma worm and Guinea worm could enter the humans through their feet and laid eggs in their bloodstream to cause illness.
Vascular Diseases – Accurate evidence of vascular Egypt Diseases has been found from well-preserved arteries of mummies. Egypt Diseases of the aorta, coronary arteries with arteriosclerosis of heart and kidney blood vessels have been found in mummies. This suggests that vascular diseases were prevalent in Ancient Egyptian society also.
Hence we can conclude that the Ancient Egyptian Diseases in mummies have exposed the understanding of disease history that could not have been thought of in recent times.
