Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, or brain. The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it.
To enunciate how severe this disease is in various nations, the theme for 2024 by the World Health Organization was set as “Yes! We can end TB”.
History
Tuberculosis is an ancient disease, with evidence of tubular decay found in Egyptian mummies back in 2400 BCE. The earliest written mentions of TB were in India (3,300 years ago) and China (2,300 years ago). TB became a major public concern in Europe during the 18th century with the rise of industrialization and urbanization. It was known as the “white plague” due to its characteristic pallor of those who got affected with the disease.
In the early 1800s, “vampire panics” existed throughout New England. When a TB outbreak occurred in a town, it was suspected that the first family member to die of TB came back as a vampire to infect the rest of the family. Before the discovery of bacteria which was found by Robert Koch on March 24th, 1882 the disease was thought to be hereditary. The discovery of the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis proved that TB is an airborne infectious disease spread when they cough, talk, or sing.
Cod liver oil, vinegar massages, and inhaling hemlock or turpentine were all treatments for TB in the early 1800s. Antibiotics were a major breakthrough in TB treatment. In 1943, Selman Waksman, Elizabeth Bugie, and Albert Schatz developed streptomycin. Today, four drugs are used to treat TB disease: isoniazid (1951), pyrazinamide (1952), ethambutol (1961), and rifampin (1966) which is still used as the most common treatment for drug-susceptible TB.
TB sanatoriums were provided as a treatment for patients, which reduced the spread of TB at home. Patients were treated for TB with fresh air, good food and sometimes surgery. In 1904, there were 115 sanatoriums with the capacity for 8,000 patients expanding to 839 sanatoriums with the capacity for 136,000 patients in 1953.
In the 1950s, a study performed in Madras, India showed that with proper drug therapy, TB patients could be treated at home. Today, public health workers around the country visit patients wherever they are to deliver and monitor TB treatment.
Prevention and Awareness
1. Vaccination: The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used in many countries to prevent severe forms of TB in children. While it may not prevent all cases of TB, it can offer protection against severe forms of the disease, such as TB meningitis and miliary TB.
2. Infection Control Measures: In healthcare settings, implementing infection control measures is crucial to prevent the spread of TB. This includes ensuring proper ventilation, using personal protective equipment (such as masks), and following proper respiratory hygiene practices.
3. Contact Tracing: Identifying and screening individuals who have been in close contact with a person with infectious TB can help detect new cases early and prevent further transmission.
4. Health Education and Awareness: Educating communities about TB, its symptoms, transmission, and the importance of seeking medical care can help reduce stigma, encourage early diagnosis, and promote treatment adherence.
By: Rabab Hunaid Abbas and Vyshna Suresh
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