how did oscar wilde die

Oscar Wilde died on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46. The immediate cause of his death was cerebral meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This condition was brought on by complications from a chronic middle ear infection, which developed into a severe and intractable infection of the brain. Earlier beliefs that Wilde died from tertiary syphilis have been discredited by modern medical evaluations of his prison medical records, which showed no evidence of syphilis or its associated neurological symptoms. Instead, Wilde likely suffered from a cholesteatoma, a destructive tumor in the middle ear causing chronic infection that, untreated, spread and led to fatal meningoencephalitis. This infection was worsened by his harsh imprisonment conditions and inadequate medical care, leading to his decline and eventual death in a modest Paris hotel room, penniless. Wilde's last reputed words humorously referenced a duel with his wallpaper, underscoring his wit even in his final moments.