Table 1.
Key clinical features of the plague of Athens in Thycidides' description
| Clinical description | Time appearance |
|---|---|
| Rapid onset | Early |
| Fever | Early |
| Red eyes | Early |
| Runny nose, sneezing | Early |
| Red throat, hoarseness | Early |
| Foul breath | Early |
| Retching, convulsions | Middle |
| Livid red rasha | Middle |
| Blisters, sores | Middle |
| Sensation of intense internal heat | Middle |
| Sleeplessness | Late |
| Diarrhea | Late |
| Body or extremity gangrene | Late |
| Loss of sight | Late |
| Loss of memory | Late |
| Healthy until death by exhaustion | Late |
Adapted from Page DL. Thucydides' description of the great plague of athens. Class Q 1953;3:97–119; with permission.
a
Face → extremities.