This unusual, recurrent epidemic illness has popped its head in and out of the annals of history. It goes by many names: the English Sweats, coma somnolentum, Schlafkrankheit ("sleep sickness"), and the Nona, to name a few.
The last time it was widespread was during the influenza pandemic of 1915-1926, but medical case studies and reports of recurrent epidemcis date back to the 16th century.
Is it a new viral or bacteral illness? Or something more complicated?
We'll do our best to sort it out in this episode of the show.
Sources:
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encephalitis_lethargica
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Sacks
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakenings
-Encephalitis lethargica: 100 years after the epidemic: Brain, Volume 140, Issue 8, August 2017, Pages 2246–2251, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awx177
-https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/140/8/2246/3970828?login=false
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