Weight loss and the so-called 'wasting away' associated with TB led to the popular 19th century name of consumption, as the disease was seen to be consuming the individual.
In the 1700s, TB was called “the white plague” due to the paleness of the patients. TB was commonly called “consumption” in the 1800s even after Schonlein named it tuberculosis. During this time, TB was also called the “Captain of all these men of death.”
Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs, and at the turn of the 20th century, the leading cause of death in the United States.
The word “consumption” first appeared in the 14th century to describe any potentially fatal wasting disease–that is, any condition that “consumed” the body. But over time it came to apply more specifically to tuberculosis.
In the 19th century, TB's high mortality rate among young and middle-aged adults and the surge of Romanticism, which stressed feeling over reason, caused many to refer to the disease as the "romantic disease".
The idea of being quietly and inoffensively sick further explains why this disease was romanticized. The symptoms of tuberculosis were exponentially preferable to other epidemics and infection which ravaged 19th and 20th century society.
One of the most common is Mycobacterium avium, which can cause symptoms similar to tuberculosis, such as cough, fever, fatigue, and weight loss.
[1] Very few recovered. Those who survived their first bout with the disease were haunted by severe recurrences that destroyed any hope for an active life. It was estimated that, at the turn of the century, 450 Americans died of tuberculosis every day, most between ages 15 and 44.
In 1882, Robert Koch's discovery of the tubercule baccilum revealed that TB was not genetic, but rather highly contagious; it was also somewhat preventable through good hygiene.
There is good news. People with TB can be treated if they seek medical help. Why is TB still a problem in the United States? Tuberculosis is preventable and treatable but remains the world's deadliest infectious-disease killer.
The Search for the Cure
In 1943 Selman Waksman discovered a compound that acted against M. tuberculosis, called streptomycin. The compound was first given to a human patient in November 1949 and the patient was cured.
Today, tuberculosis is considered largely controlled in the U.S., but it is still a bigger threat than most people know. According to the CDC, there are an estimated 13 million people in the United States living with inactive TB.
Although it is spread in a similar way to a cold or the flu, TB is not as contagious. You would usually have to spend prolonged periods in close contact with an infected person to catch the infection yourself. For example, TB infections usually spread between family members who live in the same house.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) disease. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States. However, it is often given to infants and small children in other countries where TB is common.
A hundred years ago, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death in the United States. These days, thanks to the development of effective treatments and a vigilant public health system, this deadly disease is largely controlled in the U.S. But TB is not gone—and it should not be forgotten.
Tuberculosis has been a major world health problem for centuries. It has not been eradicated despite advancements in science. Main reason is that research and its utilization have gone into a deep rut because of lack of vision and innovation.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient human disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is an airborne pathogen and is extremely contagious.
Side-effects to the intramuscular injections were severe, though, including fever, weight loss, vomiting, and – in many cases – death. Yet, use of sanocrysin continued until the Second World War, despite the fact that no scientific tests demonstrated its effectiveness against TB.
During much of the sanatorium era, several novel therapeutic interventions were introduced and widely used as treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis (9). These included artificial pneumothorax, artificial pneumoperitoneum, thoracoplasty, plombage, phrenic nerve crush, and lung resection (10).
A widespread belief was that tuberculosis assisted artistic talent, as witness the number of great artists who were affected. Physical mechanisms proposed for this effect included the slight fever and the toxaemia caused by the disease, which allegedly helped them to see life more clearly and to act decisively.
tuberculosis was originated in East Africa about 3 million years ago. A growing pool of evidence suggests that the current strains of M. tuberculosis is originated from a common ancestor around 20,000 – 15,000 years ago.
Skin - TB can cause certain rashes, including erythema nodosum - a red, lumpy rash on the legs - or lupus vulgaris which gives lumps or ulcers. Spread to many parts of the body - this is called miliary TB, and can affect many organs, including lungs, bones, liver, eyes and skin.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis (the cause of tuberculosis) and M. leprae (the cause of leprosy). NTM are also referred to as atypical mycobacteria, mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT), or environmental mycobacteria.
The percentage of TB cases that occur in Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, and Asian persons is higher than expected based on the percentage of these populations in the U.S. population. In 2021, 88.1% of the TB cases reported in the United States occurred among racial and ethnic minority groups.
Unlike other serious illnesses of the time, pulmonary tuberculosis was associated with fragility and sexual attractiveness. The consumptive appearance entailed dramatically pale skin, an ethereal thinness, with red cheeks and a feverish glow.