Depends on where and when you are talking about. There was a doctor in the 60s that proposed a misunderstanding of the disease Porphyria was the ancient origin of vampire folklore. The disease makes you extremely photosensitive, making your teeth seem longer and fang-like by causing your gums to recede, and causes your urine to appear red.
Other people have suggested that rabies was the origin, for more obvious bite related reasons.
One of the most recent vampire hysterias in history was caused by the spread of tuberculosis in the United states in the 18th and 19th century. The disease made you pale, cough up blood, and gave you a complexion that was considered by Victorians to emanate youthful beauty. People dying of consumption would be blamed for deaths in the family or community, being accused of stealing life from the people around them.
Depends on where and when you are talking about. There was a doctor in the 60s that proposed a misunderstanding of the disease Porphyria was the ancient origin of vampire folklore. The disease makes you extremely photosensitive, making your teeth seem longer and fang-like by causing your gums to recede, and causes your urine to appear red.
Other people have suggested that rabies was the origin, for more obvious bite related reasons.
One of the most recent vampire hysterias in history was caused by the spread of tuberculosis in the United states in the 18th and 19th century. The disease made you pale, cough up blood, and gave you a complexion that was considered by Victorians to emanate youthful beauty. People dying of consumption would be blamed for deaths in the family or community, being accused of stealing life from the people around them.