About Nil Filatov
Lived 1847 – 1902 (aged 54). Nil Filatov was a Russian physician and pediatrician, known for Dukes' disease, Infectious mononucleosis and Koplik spots.
Nil Fyodorovich Filatov (, , or , – ) was a medical doctor who is considered the founder of Russian paediatrics.
Career Having graduated from the Moscow University, he practised as a country doctor in his native region. In 1872–1874, Filatov took additional training in Vienna, Berlin, Heidelberg, and Prague. In 1876, he upheld a thesis on bronchitis and pneumonia, and obtained a doctor degree.
Nil Filatov is most famous for describing infectious mononucleosis (also known as Filatov's disease) in 1887 and Dukes' disease (sometimes referred as Dukes-Filatov disease) in 1885; he was also one of the first to observe Koplik's spots (1895). In cooperation with Georgy Gabrichevsky he introduced serumal treatment of diphtheria in 1894.
He created a number of handbooks on paediatrics, which were not only popular in Russia, but also translated into German, French, Italian, Czech and Hungarian. In 1892, Filatov established the Society of Paediatricians in Moscow.
The oldest children's hospitals in Moscow (where Filatov worked, now #13), and in Russia (#5, based in St. Petersburg) are named after him. His nephew Vladimir Filatov was a prominent ophthalmologist.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Nil Filatov's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Nil Filatov?
Russian pediatrician (1847–1902)
When was Nil Filatov born?
Nil Filatov was born on 2 June 1847 in Mikhaylovka.
When did Nil Filatov die?
Nil Filatov died on 26 January 1902 in Moscow.
What was Nil Filatov's occupation?
Nil Filatov was a physician and pediatrician.
What was Nil Filatov known for?
Nil Filatov was known for Dukes' disease, Infectious mononucleosis and Koplik spots.
What nationality was Nil Filatov?
Nil Filatov was Russian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nil Filatov. https://biography.guide/nil-filatov/
MLA: "Nil Filatov." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nil-filatov/.
Chicago: "Nil Filatov." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nil-filatov/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:01 UTC