Victorian diseases have come back to haunt us

Official figures show a rise in disease such as gout, cholera, whooping cough and malnutrition

Diseases which were rife in the Victorian era are making a comeback, according to official figures.

NHS statistics disclose that the number of cases of gout and scarlet fever have almost doubled within five years, with a rise in other illnesses such as scurvy, cholera, whooping cough and malnutrition, The Telegraph reports.

In 2013/14, more than 86,000 hospital admissions involved patients who were diagnosed with gout – an increase of 78 per cent in five years, and of 16 per cent on the year before.

The painful condition, linked to over-indulgence in rich foods and alcohol, and associated with wealthy historical figures, was most common among men and in those aged 60 and above.

The figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show a 71 per cent increase in hospital admissions among patients suffering from malnutrition - from 3,900 admissions in 2009-10 to 6,690 admissions in 2013-14.

Cases of scarlet fever admitted to hospital doubled, from 403 to 845, while the number of hospital patients found to be suffering from scurvy also rose, with 72 cases in 2009/10 rising to 94 cases last year.

The figures also show a steep rise in cases diagnosed with cholera, a water-borne disease which was extremely prevalent in the 19th century, causing nearly 40,000 deaths.

While total numbers remain low, the 22 cases last year compare with 4 in 2009/10, the statistics show.

Experts said the increasing cases of gout are likely to reflect rising obesity levels, with two thirds of adults now overweight or obese, and are also associated with excessive drinking.

In the past, the painful illness – a type of arthritis - has been dubbed "the disease of kings" as a number of monarchs are thought to have been affected, including Henry VIII.

The most common symptom is a sudden and severe pain in the joint along with swelling and redness.

Prof Ashton said doctors in the UK needed more training in how to identify diseases which were unfamiliar to them.

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