Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on December 5, 1791, at the age of 35, after a brief but severe illness lasting about 15 days. The exact cause of his death remains uncertain and has been the subject of much speculation and medical analysis. Symptoms and Final Illness:
Mozart's final illness began around November 20, 1791, when he became bedridden with painful swelling (edema) of his limbs, fever, vomiting, profuse sweating, and a skin rash. He also experienced body-wide pain and swelling of the hands, feet, legs, abdomen, arms, and face. Despite his illness, he remained conscious and was able to sing parts of his Requiem shortly before his death

. Contemporary Medical Opinions:
Mozart's personal physician, Dr. Thomas Franz Closset, diagnosed his condition as "hitziges Frieselfieber," or acute miliary fever, characterized by high fever and a rash of tiny red bumps. Closset also suggested Mozart had rheumatic fever, a common and often fatal illness in Vienna at the time

. Modern Medical Theories:

• Some researchers propose Mozart died of chronic kidney disease leading to uremia, which could cause the symptoms he exhibited and is consistent with his medical history

• A 1994 article in Neurology suggested a subdural hematoma (a brain bleed) possibly caused by earlier falls, which could have been worsened by aggressive bloodletting treatments shortly before his death

• Other theories include Schönlein-Henoch purpura (a vascular disease), infections like tuberculosis or streptococcal infections, trichinosis from undercooked pork, or poisoning-though poisoning has been largely discredited by historians and medical experts

Summary:
Mozart's death was likely due to a combination of factors including acute infection (possibly rheumatic fever or acute miliary fever), complications from chronic kidney disease, and possibly other underlying conditions. The absence of his remains and limited medical knowledge of the time make a definitive diagnosis impossible. His symptoms of fever, rash, swelling, and pain over a short illness period are most consistent with an acute infectious disease complicated by organ failure

. In conclusion, Mozart died from an acute illness with symptoms of fever, rash, and swelling, possibly acute miliary fever or rheumatic fever, complicated by chronic kidney disease or other conditions, but the exact cause remains a mystery.