Dracula, a popular, centuries-old vampire, has inspired tons of books and movies. However, according to a report, the real-life Dracula was of noble blood.
Romanian Prince The Real-Life Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character played by several characters, including Christopher Lee and Nicolas Cage. However, according to some sources, he is based on a real Romanian prince named Vlad the Impaler.
According to a study, the Romanian prince and Count Dracula have a violent history. According to specialists from the University of Catania, Vlad the Impaler reportedly had an unusual illness that led him to produce bloody tears.
The study's principal investigator, Professor Vincenzo Cunsolo, hypothesized that he was likely affected by the pathological disease known as haemolacria, or the ability to cry blood-tinged tears, at least in the later years of his life.
Between 1448 and his death in the early 1470s, Vlad, popularly known as Vlad Dracula, ruled Wallachia thrice. He later served as the model for the infamous vampire count in the 1897 novel Dracula by Irish novelist Bram Stoker.
Over 500 years after his passing, researchers obtained historical biomolecules from letters penned by the famed warlord. In May of this year, precisely 125 years after the publication of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," the team removed blood, perspiration, fingerprints, and saliva from a letter.
The letter, dated Aug. 4, 1475, was sent by a guy identifying himself as the "prince of the Transalpine regions" to the citizens of Sibiu.
He told the people of the town that he was moving to their village soon.
At the bottom, he signed it with his dreaded name, Vlad Dracula.
Although not exhaustive, the proteomic findings suggest that, by some accounts, he was likely affected by the pathological disease known as haemolacria in the later years of his life, which meant that he could cry blood-tinged tears, according to Cunsolo. In addition, he most likely experienced skin, respiratory tract, and other inflammatory processes. Cunsolo believes this is the first time such research has been done, and it has contributed to bringing attention to Vlad Dracula the Impaler's health.
What Is Haemolacria?
Haemolacria, a real medical disorder, is characterized by reddened tears. It is typically benign and is a sign of another ailment. It is also linked to various illnesses and conditions, such as menstruation and hormone changes. In 2021, a woman bled from her eyes during her period, and she was later diagnosed with ocular vicarious menstruation.
Other conditions associated with haemolacria include inflammation, conjunctival injuries, trauma, blocked tear duct, high blood pressure, nosebleeds, pyogenic granuloma, melanoma, tumors, and blood disorder such as hemophilia.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any blood mixed with your tears, recurrent cases, or accompanying symptoms.
Before making treatment recommendations, the doctor must fully diagnose the underlying condition to address the issue. The procedure may include probing and irrigating the affected eye area, taking culture to identify abnormalities, and performing a nasal endoscopy or CT scan of the sinuses.
Treatment may include antibiotic drops, dilation, and flushing for tear draining, stenting, or surgery.
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