Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) has been around for thousands of years. There is evidence that Egyptians had TB and the disease has ebbed and flowed since then. The word “phtisis” or “consumption” appeared in the Greek literature and was described as being the most widespread disease by Hippocrates. Records from that period suggest that TB was almost always fatal. Those who contracted TB were left alone to die. This is very similar to what happens now in some developing countries where rabies is common and those bitten don’t get shots right away. Medical understanding of the nature of TB increased slowly with one of the first breakthroughs coming in the 17th century when it was recognized that changes occurred in the lungs of patients with consumption. The bacteria typically affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can affect other parts of the body as well (extrapulmonary TB). At that time it was also recognized that the disease was contagious and that patients should be isolated. Later it was realized that TB germs are spread through the air and those infected can infect others as they cough or spit. Since the lungs are most often infected, TB spreads quickly to others in congested areas and the spread of the disease is reinforced by poor sanitation, crowded living conditions, poor diets and the fact that the TB bacillus can remain in the air for several hours.