TB History

TB, or Tuberculosis, is an infectious disease transmitted by ingestion or inhalation of tubercle bacilli. The disease primarily attacks the lungs, but almost any other part of the body is susceptible to TB as well. TB's infamous history ranges from prehistoric times to the present.

Prehistoric Cases

• The remains of prehistoric humans (4000 B.C.) and the spines of Egyptian mummies (2400 B.C.) reveal early evidence of TB.

Medical Descriptions

• During the 17th and 18th centuries, anatomical and pathological descriptions of TB appeared in medical literature like the Sylvius Opera Medica of 1679, and the writings of English physician Benjamin Marten in 1720.

Significance

• In the mid-1800s, one person in four died of TB in America and Europe until the advent of sanatoriums in 1854, which provided care, nutrition and fresh air. This was the first effective step in controlling the disease.

Identification

• During the late 19th century, physicians Jean-Antoine Villemin and Robert Koch developed techniques to identify and view the TB microorganism that enabled physicians to fight the disease.

Prevention/Solution

• Throughout the early- to mid-20th century, prevention and treatment methods began in earnest. They included milk pasteurization, drug therapy (Streptomycin and Isoniazid) and vaccination with Bacille Calmette Guérin (or BCG).

Effects

• The 2000s saw a continuing decline in tuberculosis, which prompted the discontinuation of mandatory vaccines in the UK. Despite the improvement, medical personnel around the world remain dedicated to the eradication of TB.