Tuberculosis (tubercle bacillus) By: Jonathan R. Martinez

Tuberculosis The disease is found worldwide. Through research and study it has been found that the earliest case of Tuberculosis dates back to about 500,000 years ago, due to the discovery of a human fossil in Turkey.

What Causes Tuberculosis The scientific name for Tuberculosis (TB) is tubercle bacillus. Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli is the causative agent of tuberculosis Tuberculosis is classified as aerobic bacterium

Symptoms of Tuberculosis You may not notice any symptoms of illness until the disease is quite advanced. Even then the symptoms–loss of weight, loss of energy, poor appetite, fever, a productive cough, and night sweats–might easily be blamed on another disease. Tuberculosis attacks the lungs, and kidneys.

How Tuberculosis is Transmitted Tuberculosis is transmitted through the air from exposure to germs in the saliva of infected persons and sputum coughed up from their lungs. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets which contain the germs are released and can be inhaled by anyone in the area. But not everyone infected develops the disease. In fact, about 90% of infected persons remain infected for life without having any symptoms.

Historical Significance Tuberculosis caused the most wide spread public concern in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries as a endemic disease among the urban poor. It was not until 1946 with the creation of the antibiotic streptomycin that treatment rather than prevention became possible.

Interesting Facts In the United States, concern with the spread of tuberculosis played a role in the movement to prohibit public spitting except into spittoons.