Talk:Vampire

Names for vampires across cultures:

Possible natural explanations:

Tuberculosis causes a pale complexion, conjunctivitis (red eyes and aversion to light), coughing up blood, and the general sense that the person is "wasting away", as if their life force is being drained (hence why it's also called "Consumption")
Natural signs of decay in corpses can make them superficially appear like they're still living
- Skin drying out causes hair and nails to appear larger
- Upper layers of skin may fall off first, as well as the skin tightening from drying out, which gives the superficial appearance of youthful skin
- Gas buildup can cause the appearance of a distended stomach, as if the corpse is having its fill. Additionally, if a stake is driven through the corpse, the gas release can cause it to "sigh" and decay to speed up, further supporting the idea that it was actually still alive

It's noteworthy that many ritualistic practices of preparing a corpse for burial seem to be oriented around preventing these effects

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