| Vampire folklore is prevalent throughout European | | | | villagers to conclude vampires were trying to escape |
| history. Some tales date back as far as the 12th | | | | from their graves. |
| century. It's possible that these early tales of | | | | Anemia |
| vampires were spawned by real medical conditions. | | | | Anemia is a condition that is characterized by the |
| Porphyria | | | | blood not having enough healthy red blood cells. Since |
| There are several types of porphyria. Four of the | | | | red blood cells transfer oxygen throughout the body, |
| types have symptoms of light sensitivity: Variegate | | | | symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, vertigo, |
| Porphyria, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT), | | | | and weakness. These symptoms are caused by the |
| Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) or Protoporphyria, | | | | body's organs not receiving enough oxygen. These |
| and Congenital Erythropoetic Porphyria (C.E.P.). Other | | | | symptoms also mirror the symptoms of vampire |
| symptoms include brown teeth, red and sometimes | | | | victims in early folklore. Anemia is a very common |
| bloody gums, and hypertrichosis (excessive hair | | | | condition. |
| growth). These symptoms mirror many vampire | | | | Rabies |
| legends. However, victims of porphyria do not crave | | | | Bats and Wolves, both of which are oftentimes |
| or drink blood. | | | | associated with vampires, are common carriers of |
| Catalepsy | | | | the disease rabies. Rabies has symptoms that mirror |
| Catalepsy is a neurological condition characterized by | | | | vampirism. Hyper-sensitivity, a symptom of rabies, |
| a decreased sensitivity to pain coupled with muscular | | | | could result in light or garlic aversion. Other symptoms |
| rigidity. Patients with catalepsy do not respond to | | | | include becoming nocturnal due to abnormal sleep |
| external stimuli. They are aware of their surroundings | | | | patterns and hyper-sexuality. Rabies is spread by |
| but cannot speak or move. Attacks of catalepsy last | | | | biting, and victims of rabies are oftentimes seen |
| for a few minutes or for several days. | | | | frothing with blood at the mouth. |
| In severe cases, a person who is suffering from a | | | | Conclusion |
| cataleptic attack will appear dead. Signs of life can | | | | Modern medical science may explain some of |
| only be detected my means of modern medical | | | | Europe's early vampire folklore. Porphyria, catalepsy, |
| equipment. Ancient sufferers of catalepsy may have | | | | anemia, and rabies are all possible causes of early |
| been buried alive. Later, when they regained muscular | | | | vampire legends. People of the time who lacked |
| control they would have tried to free themselves | | | | medical knowledge wouldn't understand some of |
| from their coffins. Some vampire folklore describes | | | | these diseases and their symptoms. The result may |
| noises coming from freshly buried coffins. When local | | | | be the vampire folklore that spread throughout |
| villagers exhumed these graves and opened them, | | | | Europe in the middle ages. |
| scratch marks were found on the inside, leading | | | | |