The signs and symptoms of Ernest Shackleton

Ernest Shackleton, an accomplished Antarctic explorer, developed a life-threatening illness during the Discovery Antarctic expedition of 1901–4. His documented signs and symptoms included inflamed gums attributed to scurvy, severe dyspnea, and exercise intolerance, presenting in a setting of nutriti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical biography 2023-02, Vol.31 (1), p.10-15
Main Authors: Firth, PG, Benavidez, OJ, Fiechtner, L
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Ernest Shackleton, an accomplished Antarctic explorer, developed a life-threatening illness during the Discovery Antarctic expedition of 1901–4. His documented signs and symptoms included inflamed gums attributed to scurvy, severe dyspnea, and exercise intolerance, presenting in a setting of nutritional deficiency. Physical examinations at a later date, also following a prolonged diet of limited fresh food, revealed a pulmonary systolic murmur. Thiamine deficiency with cardiomyopathy, either alone or subsequently exacerbated by advanced scurvy, may have been a prominent cause of Shackleton’s condition.
ISSN:0967-7720
1758-1087
DOI:10.1177/09677720211002205