What were some of the diseases going on in Plymouth and plantation?

The early settlers of Plymouth and other early American settlements faced numerous diseases, including:

1. Smallpox: one of the deadliest infectious diseases, spread through contact with infected individuals. It caused high fever, rash, and often left survivors with permanent scarring.

2. Measles: Highly contagious viral disease that caused high fever, cough, rash, and could lead to complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.

3. Yellow Fever: Transmitted by mosquitoes, yellow fever caused fever, jaundice, and bleeding, often resulting in death.

4. Malaria: Spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria caused cycles of high fever, chills, and sweats. It could be a chronic and debilitating disease.

5. Typhoid Fever: Caused by bacteria, spread through contaminated food and water, typhoid fever led to high fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

6. Dysentery: Also spread through contaminated food and water, dysentery brought severe diarrhea, dehydration, and could be fatal.

7. Tuberculosis: Highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affected the lungs, causing chronic cough, weight loss, and fever.

8. Cholera: An acute diarrheal disease caused by bacteria, spread through contaminated water or food. Cholera led to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, often resulting in death.

9. Scarlet Fever: Caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, Scarlet fever caused a red, rashy skin, sore throat, and fever.

10. Influenza: Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a viral infection that causes fever, cough, body aches, and fatigue. It could lead to complications such as pneumonia.