Infectious diseases in the literature. A long story without end

Abstract

Infectious diseases feature prominently in world literature, as witnessed by trascendent literary works like La peste (Albert Camus), La montaña mágica (Thomas Mann) or Pabellón de reposo (Camilo José Cela). Also, their constant presence on the day?to?day of all men determines their unquestionable value regarding descriptions and arguments.These pages provide a first contact with infectious diseases in literature, including significant text passages that ilustrate not only the illness but also a social and historical perspective hardly achievable by other means. The contrast between reality and fiction, with rigor and critical approach, can lead to a profound knowledge of lots of infectious diseases.

Keywords

• enfermedades infecciosas
• literatura
• tuberculosis
• peste
• difteria
• lepra
• cólera
• gripe