RESUMO
The disease described in the Bible's Book of Job is controversial and had been of interest of theologists, psychiatrists, and dermatologists for many years. We describe several signs and symptoms compatible with chronic renal failure with neurological alterations.
Assuntos
Bíblia , Falência Renal Crônica/história , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/história , História Antiga , HumanosRESUMO
The disease described in the Bible' Book of Job is controversial and had been of interest of theologists, psychiatrists, and dermatologists for many years. We describe several signs and symptoms compatible with chronic renal failure with neurological alterations.
A doença descrita no livro bíblico de Jó é controversa, e tem interessado a teólogos, psiquiatras e dermatologistas, há tempos. Neste trabalho os autores apontam para evidências do diagnóstico de insuficiência renal crônica com alterações neurológicas.
Assuntos
História Antiga , Humanos , Bíblia , Falência Renal Crônica/história , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/históriaRESUMO
Herod the Great was the founder of a dynasty that reigned on Judea for several generations. His birth date is estimated on year 73 AC and died at 70 years old. Descriptions of the final disease of Herod were obtained from the classical chronicles of Flavius Josephus, "The Jewish war" and "Jewish Antiquities". A medical explanation for his death is attempted. A parasitism caused by Schistosoma haematobium is suggested as the etiology for chronic renal failure (edema, halitosis and orthopnea) and a "gangrene of genitalia that engendered worms" in the words of Josephus. This would be explained by the formation of genital and urinary fistulae, observed in such disease. The asseveration that Herod was "attacked by black bilis" is also discussed, based on the concepts of the Hippocratic medicine of that time.