“A small sampling of our death records illustrate the common causes of death among children - consumption (tuberculosis), croup, whooping cough, smallpox, measles, cholera, typhus, typhoid fever, diphtheria, influenza, and scarlet fever.”
“Cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria, and scarlet fever outbreaks were high, killing many children. In the 20th century, scarlet fever was the leading cause of death in children, with a mortality rate of 20%.”
“Reasons for the high mortality rate can be traced to several factors. First, nutrition was a problem. Many had access to a limit amount of food, and nutritional value was low in many cases. Second, the idea of cleanliness and hygiene practices weren’t introduced until the late 1800s. People didn’t wash their hands or bathe regularly. Waste was thrown into streets and rivers. Housing in urban areas was crowded and dirty. Third, people were unaware how certain diseases were spread.”
https://www.greenecountyohio.gov/Blog.aspx?IID=180
“ In the 20th century, scarlet fever was the leading cause of death in children, with a mortality rate of 20%.” Do you mean the 19th century when you talk about the late 1800’s as the 20th century? My brother had scarlet fever twice in the late 1950’s and he is now 82.