Tuberculosis—the Face of Struggles, the Struggles We Face, and the Dreams That Lie Within (2024)

FAQs

Why was tuberculosis called phthisis? ›

Tuberculosis disease, or phthisis (ϕθίσις, the Greek word for consumption), was named by the father of allopathic medicine, Hippocrates (c. 460–370 BCE), because the disease appeared to consume the affected person through substantial weight loss and wasting (1).

“But they suffer from considerable long-term consequences, medically and socially.” Tuberculosis can leave scars in the lungs, which lead to restricted lung volume and increase the risk of respiratory problems. Post-tuberculosis can also manifest as a persistent cough, phlegm, and shortness of breath.

A total of 1.3 million people died from TB in 2022 (including 167 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV and AIDS).

Today, TB remains the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. There are options for treating latent TB infection to prevent getting TB disease later as well as treatment regimens for active TB disease that take several months. A healthcare provider will decide the appropriate treatment option.

Tuberculosis (TB) was called “phthisis” in ancient Greece, “tabes” in ancient Rome, and “schachepheth” in ancient Hebrew. 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.

Tuberculosis is additionally mentioned within the Bible, Leviticus 26:16, where God warns the people of Israel, saying, "I will do that also to you: I will be able to send you fear, dry disease, and fever, which can corrupt your eyes and make your soul mourn." Sickness was considered a punishment from God, sent to ...

The infected person's immune system walls off the TB organisms. And the TB stays inactive throughout life in most people who are infected. This person would have a positive skin or blood test for TB but a normal chest X-ray or one that only shows past scarring from the disease.

Active, drug-sensitive TB disease is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. The vast majority of TB cases can be cured when medicines are provided and taken properly.

What is the life expectancy of a person with TB? An older 2014 study investigated the longevity loss among people who were cured of TB. The authors found that people who received full treatment had an average life expectancy that was 3.6 years shorter than that of people who did not contract TB.

Globally men are significantly more at risk of contracting and dying from TB than women.

Has anyone ever survived tuberculosis? ›

We found 12 studies with TB-specific mortality data. Ten-year survival was 69% in North America (95% CI 54–81) and 36% in Europe (95% CI 10–71).

Once deemed as an incurable disease, tuberculosis, or TB, is a mostly curable health condition today.

1. Ischemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease)

Each year, tuberculosis (TB) kills about 1.3 million people worldwide—that's more deaths than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. TB is the world's deadliest infectious disease (though briefly eclipsed by COVID-19), killing someone every 20 seconds.

Remember, even though tuberculosis can be treated, it can also be fatal if it's not treated. Tuberculosis is an infection that is spread through the air. Even though it can be treated, it's still responsible for many deaths around the world.

plural phthises ˈt(h)ī-ˌsēz ˈt(h)is-ˌēz. : a progressively wasting or consumptive condition. especially : pulmonary tuberculosis.

Any of the infectious diseases of humans or other animals caused by bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. From the Latin tuberculum, "small swelling," the diminutive form of tuber, "lump." Tuberculosis has existed in humans since antiquity; it is believed to have originated with the first domestication of cattle.

Throughout history, the disease tuberculosis has been variously known as consumption, phthisis, and the White Plague.

The name Tuberculosis comes from the nodules, called 'tubercles', which form in the lymph nodes and other affected tissues of affected animals. Cattle are considered to be the major reservoir M. bovis, and are the main source of infection for humans.