Talk:Dukes' disease

In 1991, a review of the original 1900 Lancet paper describing Duke's disease was performed. The researchers determined all of the cited cases were attributable to misdiagnosed rubella and scarlet fever. They also document the general trend of eliminating the disease from pediatric textbooks between 1900 and 1960 because the disease in not observed. They conclude "4th disease" is better thought to be a series of misdiagnosed rubella and scarlet fever rather than a free-standing disease with its own etiology.

Morens DM, Katz AR. The "fourth disease" of childhood: reevaluation of a nonexistent disease. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1991;134:6 p628-640.