The spanish flu in medical perspective: 1918- 1919 outbreaks in the scientific scene in argentina

Abstract

Objective: In this study we propose to examine the ideas and concepts that circulated in the medical science in Argentina about certain traits of the Spanish flu that struck the world population between 1918 and 1919 (geographical origin, etiology, communicability etc). The pandemic entered Argentina arousing fear in society, confusion in the medical elites and the promotion of public measures in order to fight the disease. Development: Anchored in a qualitative approach, we put into perspective a set of scientific conferences on the evolution of the epidemic crisis held in the country, as well as medical articles, published in specific editorials and related to this issue after the pandemic was culminated. Conclusions: The Spanish flu was an illness that generated many negative responses of discontent by a population that was frightened by a scourge that would never stop and had burst into their daily lives. We consider that these statements were the result of a series of unsuccessful public measures, barely hinged together, that failed to mitigate the disease, since they were anchored in the local medical knowledge. Based on the study of articles and lectures of recognized and distinguished scientific and medical publications, we find that Argentine physicians knew little about the etiology of the disease at the time of its appearance, a fact that led to the emergence of numerous and ineffective treatments to combat it.