Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on December 5, 1791, at the age of 35, at his home in Vienna, Austria. The exact cause of his death has been the subject of much research, speculation, and various theories. The main sources of contention are whether Mozarts decline was gradual or sudden and whether the cause of his death was a disease or poisoning.
Some of the theories about Mozart's cause of death include:
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Subdural hematoma: A 1994 article in Neurology suggests that Mozart died of a subdural hematoma. This theory is supported by the forensic reconstruction of soft tissues related to a skull believed to be Mozart's, which showed substantial concordance with his portraits.
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Acute miliary fever: Mozart's personal physician, Thomas Franz Closset, concluded that the composer died of hitziges Frieselfieber, or acute miliary fever.
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Chronic kidney disease and uraemia: A study published in 2014 suggests that Mozart died of chronic kidney disease and ultimately uraemia. This theory is based on the available evidence and the understanding that if kidney damage reaches a critical point, even a minimum additional stress can lead to death.
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Strep infection: A more recent study suggests that the actual cause of Mozart's death may have been a strep infection. This theory is based on his symptoms, which included severe edema, pain all over his body, a fever, and a rash.
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Trichinosis: Another theory put forth in 2001 argues that Mozart died from trichinosis after consuming undercooked pork chops.
Due to the lack of an autopsy and the conflicting nature of the available evidence, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of Mozart's death. The various theories and speculations surrounding his demise continue to be a topic of interest and debate among researchers and music enthusiasts.
