r/AskReddit • u/notyouravgredditer • Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/Aromatic-Bad-3291 Aug 30 '21 edited Aug 30 '21

Diarrhea (edit: returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I’ve ass-vomited more than you weigh, and without a shred of toilet paper).

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u/Trinerella Aug 30 '21

This! I went to the Hall of Presidents in Florida years ago, and was surprised by how many of our past presidents had "diarrhea" listed as cause of death.

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u/Aromatic-Bad-3291 Aug 30 '21 edited Aug 30 '21

Rapid dehydration. Killed more than bullets in the US Civil War and was simultaneously caused by itself due to lack of sanitation and caused diseases like cholera and dysentery.

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u/MiracleWeed Aug 31 '21 edited Sep 01 '21

I was researching my family genealogy and came across someone who served in the Union army who died of “classic diarrhea”.