Borrowing an idea from Randy Seaver's post on his blog, Genea-Musings, I researched a couple of diseases that affected my ancestors using ChatGPT. (Getting more practice and fun in with AI!)
My great-grandmother, Bessie Alice Carter (1883-1960), who grew up in Wright County, Iowa, had scarlet fever when she was a child, about 1895. I wrote a blog post about having the china head doll she received after she recovered from the fever.
Today I decided to ask ChatGPT about scarlet fever: its symptoms, contagiousness, were toys really burned when a child had the fever, and is it still prevalent today. ChatGPT came through and answered my questions and more.
I started my questioning very much like Randy did in his blog post about typhoid fever:
"Was scarlet fever prevalent in the 1880's in Wright County, Iowa? How does a person catch it, what are the symptoms and how did people die from it?"
AI's answer:
"Yes, scarlet fever was a significant public health concern in the 1880s, including in rural areas like Wright County, Iowa. Before the advent of antibiotics, outbreaks of scarlet fever were common and often deadly, especially among children.
How a Person Catches Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the same bacteria that cause strep throat. It spreads through:
- Respiratory droplets: Coughing, sneezing, or talking near an infected person.
- Direct contact: Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Shared items: Drinking from the same cup, using shared utensils, or handling contaminated clothing.
Symptoms of Scarlet Fever
The disease typically started with:
- Fever (101°F or higher)
- Sore throat (often severe and red, sometimes with white patches)
- Headache and body aches
- Chills
- Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes
- A distinctive red rash that felt like sandpaper, starting on the chest and spreading
- Strawberry tongue (red and swollen with a white coating)
How People Died from It
Before antibiotics, scarlet fever could be fatal due to severe complications such as:
- Septicemia (blood poisoning): The bacteria could enter the bloodstream, leading to widespread infection.
- Rheumatic fever: This inflammatory disease could damage the heart, causing lifelong complications.
- Kidney disease (glomerulonephritis): A post-infection immune response could lead to kidney failure.
- Pneumonia: A secondary bacterial infection could develop, leading to respiratory failure.
- Toxic shock: In severe cases, the bacteria released toxins that overwhelmed the body.
Scarlet Fever in Wright County, Iowa (1880s)
While specific data on Wright County is limited, scarlet fever was a widespread epidemic disease in the U.S. during the late 19th century. Many rural communities, including those in Iowa, experienced periodic outbreaks. Schools and homes were often placed under quarantine to prevent the spread.
Would you like help finding historical records or newspaper reports of scarlet fever cases in Wright County?"
Of course, I said "Yes"!
"Scarlet fever was indeed a significant public health concern in Iowa during the 1880s, affecting various communities, including rural areas like Wright County. While specific records for Wright County are limited, the prevalence of scarlet fever across the state suggests that residents in this area were likely impacted.
Scarlet Fever in Iowa During the 1880s
Throughout the 19th century, Iowa, like many states, faced numerous outbreaks of infectious diseases, including scarlet fever. The state's growing population and the influx of immigrants contributed to the spread of various illnesses. According to Iowa PBS, immigrants brought diseases such as malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid fever, and smallpox to Iowa, which quickly spread among the population. Iowa PBS
Although scarlet fever is not explicitly mentioned in this source, its prevalence during that era suggests it was among the diseases affecting Iowans.
The 1880 Census provides detailed mortality statistics, including deaths from scarlet fever, across various states and counties. While specific data for Wright County is not readily available in the provided sources, the census data indicates that scarlet fever was a cause of mortality in Iowa during that period. U.S. Census Bureau
Researching Scarlet Fever in Wright County
To obtain specific information about scarlet fever cases in Wright County during the 1880s, you might consider the following approaches:
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Local Historical Societies and Archives: Contacting the Wright County Historical Society or local libraries may provide access to historical health records, newspapers, and personal accounts documenting scarlet fever cases during that time.
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State Health Department Records: The Iowa Department of Public Health or state archives may hold historical epidemiological data detailing disease outbreaks by county.
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Newspaper Archives: Exploring digitized newspaper archives from the 1880s can reveal reports of scarlet fever outbreaks in Wright County. Online databases or local library collections may house such archives.
While specific records for Wright County are scarce, the widespread nature of scarlet fever in Iowa during the 1880s suggests that the county's residents were likely affected by this disease."
I then asked the following questions:
"Is there a vaccination for scarlet fever now? If so, when did it start? How prevalent is Scarlet fever today?"
Answer:
"Is There a Scarlet Fever Vaccine Today?
No, there is currently no vaccine for scarlet fever. While researchers have explored vaccine development, no widely available immunization exists. However, because scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep), it is now easily treatable with antibiotics, primarily penicillin or amoxicillin.
Why Was No Vaccine Developed?
- By the mid-20th century, antibiotics became widely available, making scarlet fever much less dangerous and reducing the urgency for a vaccine.
- The immune response to group A strep is complex, making vaccine development challenging.
- Hygiene improvements and public health measures significantly reduced the spread of the disease.
How Prevalent Is Scarlet Fever Today?
Scarlet fever still exists but is far less common and much less deadly than in the past. Key points about modern prevalence:
- It mainly affects children between 5 and 15 years old.
- Cases still occur worldwide, with periodic outbreaks, especially in parts of Asia, Europe, and the UK.
- In the U.S., cases are rare due to antibiotic treatment and improved public health.
- The UK and parts of China have seen a resurgence in cases since the 2010s, with thousands of reported infections.
While scarlet fever can still cause complications (such as rheumatic fever or kidney problems) if left untreated, early diagnosis and antibiotics prevent most severe cases."
Lastly, I asked these follow-up questions:
"Was scarlet fever highly contagious? Did they have to burn or destroy children's toys and other belongings if they came down with scarlet fever?"
AI didn't disappoint:
"Was Scarlet Fever Highly Contagious?
Yes, scarlet fever was (and still is) highly contagious. Since it is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep), it spreads easily through:
- Respiratory droplets – Coughing, sneezing, or talking near others.
- Direct contact – Touching an infected person or their sores (if present).
- Contaminated objects – Shared utensils, bedding, clothing, or toys.
Scarlet fever outbreaks were common in schools, homes, and crowded living conditions, making it a major concern before antibiotics were available.
Did They Have to Burn or Destroy Children's Toys and Belongings?
Yes, it was common practice to burn or destroy infected belongings, especially in the 1800s and early 1900s. This was due to the fear of "fomites" (objects that could carry disease).
- Toys, books, clothing, and bedding were sometimes burned or thoroughly disinfected.
- Rooms of infected children were fumigated with sulfur or formaldehyde.
- Families were quarantined, with a sign placed on their house warning others to stay away.
While we now know that Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria don’t survive long on surfaces, back then, these extreme measures were thought necessary to prevent the spread of disease.
Would you like to know more about historical quarantine practices for scarlet fever?"
Your know my answer to that!
"Historical Quarantine Practices for Scarlet Fever
In the 1800s and early 1900s, before antibiotics were available, quarantine was one of the primary ways to control the spread of scarlet fever. Because the disease was highly contagious, public health officials and families took drastic measures to contain outbreaks.
1. Quarantine of Homes
- If a child or family member was diagnosed with scarlet fever, the entire household was quarantined for several weeks.
- A quarantine sign (often red or yellow) was posted on the front of the house to warn others to stay away.
- Family members who had not yet fallen ill were often required to remain inside as well.
- In some cases, food and supplies were delivered by neighbors or health officials to avoid spreading the disease.
2. Isolation of Sick Children
- The infected child was typically confined to one room, often in an upstairs bedroom or away from the rest of the family.
- Only one caregiver (often the mother) was allowed to enter the sickroom, and she sometimes wore a cloth mask to reduce exposure.
- Ventilation was encouraged—windows were often left open, even in cold weather, because fresh air was believed to help.
3. Burning or Disinfecting Belongings
- Anything the sick child touched—toys, books, clothing, bedding, and even wallpaper—was believed to harbor infection.
- Burning infected items was common, especially in severe outbreaks.
- If belongings were not burned, they were boiled in water, soaked in disinfectant, or fumigated with sulfur or formaldehyde.
4. School and Public Place Closures
- Schools, churches, and theaters were sometimes closed during outbreaks.
- If a child had scarlet fever, they were banned from school for several weeks after recovery.
- Teachers and school officials sometimes conducted inspections of children’s throats and skin to catch early cases.
5. Strict Public Health Laws
- Some towns and cities had mandatory reporting laws, requiring doctors to inform health authorities of scarlet fever cases.
- Households that violated quarantine could face fines or legal action.
- Some communities had “pest houses”—separate buildings where contagious patients were sent to isolate.
How Effective Were These Measures?
While quarantine and disinfection helped reduce the spread of scarlet fever, they were not always effective due to:
- Limited medical knowledge—People didn’t fully understand how the disease spread.
- Delays in diagnosis—By the time symptoms appeared, the disease had often already spread.
- Asymptomatic carriers—Some people carried and spread the bacteria without showing symptoms.
Once antibiotics (penicillin) became widely available in the 1940s, scarlet fever became much easier to treat, and strict quarantine measures were no longer necessary."
ChatGPT even found the nifty sign shown above!
That was very informative information, and using AI certainly makes research faster and tailored to your questions. It gave me more of an understanding of what life was like for my great-grandmother when she had the fever and immediately afterwards.
Of course, you have to be careful to double check AI's work (most of the time) to make sure it is accurate. I personally felt comfortable about the above information so I didn't perform checks other places. ChatGPT seemed to use solid sources to answer my questions.
Can you tell I am loving exploring this newest genealogy frontier?!
* George W. Schwalls, Sr. (1837-1908), also from Georgia, was a farmer and then a day laborer in his later years. Of course, he is missing on two censuses!.jpg)
* Comfort Ranney (1838-1920) was a farm laborer before he became a lumberman and ran a mill with his brother-in-law in Ohio. Then during the last 30 years of his life, he was a farmer, first in Ohio and then in Michigan.
