Gregory Parham
BI-245X
07/16/19
Dr. Hinks
The People’s Plague
There is one disease that is called “The Silent Killer” or “The Forgotten One” and that disease is tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a chronic or acute infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and it affects the lungs but can attack bones, kidneys, the brain and lymph nodes. It can be spread through a person who has tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, sings, or speaks. The symptoms for this disease include weakness, weight loss, fever, chest pains, and coughing up of blood. There is another type of tuberculosis called Military tuberculosis which is spread by blood and not contained by the immune system. Another disease is Pott’s disease is the tuberculosis of the bones.
The history of tuberculosis started in Europe in the 17thcentury and reached epidemic proportions in Europe and North America during the 18thand 19thcenturies. Due to high population and poor sanitary conditions, North American and European cities were a perfect environment for propagation. Around the 19thcentury and the year of 1850, immigrants took up residence in crowded tenements of Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City but residents were more prone to tuberculosis and other infections due to poor working conditions and crowding. The environment and housing were filthy, dark, poorly ventilated, badly contrasted and almost 18,000 people lived in apartments with mud floors. During the 19thand early 20thcentury, an interior window was mandated to be between the kitchen and bedroom to make light throughout the apartment, because it was estimated a number of 8,000 to 9,000 deaths a year due to poor ventilation in housings.
Dealing with contemporary issues on tuberculosis comes with examples of poverty, social stigma, malnutrition, and the role of HIV infection. The social sigma for tuberculosis called for a sense of disvalue and characteristics such as disgust, shame, and unacceptable. Those social stigmas can lead to losing relationships and friendships and different behavior. The relationship between tuberculosis and poverty is tough because they go hand and hand. Once we fight the two together, the economy will accelerate, and social growth will blossom. Malnutrition can increase the risk of tuberculosis due to the interaction between t-lymphocytes and macrophages. Tuberculosis is associated with lower serum albumin concentration than controls. The role of HIV gives people a higher risk of tuberculosis and become a problem for antibiotic resistance. The factors that lead to resistant and extremely resistant tuberculosis is when patients don’t adhere to the drug therapy, making sure the patients are compliant, and take the drugs as prescribed. The multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is caused by the tuberculosis bacteria that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, two of the most potent tuberculosis drugs. Some people may obtain the extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis which is a special concern for people with HIV because they have a higher risk of death once infected.
Overall, I think we need effective vaccines and specialized studies for tuberculosis to conquer this disease. The current treatment for tuberculosis is very long and has many side effects to it. If we figure out ways to make it simpler or easier treatment and spread awareness throughout the world, we can end this disease. It is important we conquer this because many people lose families and family members to this devastating disease. Too many people are becoming diagnosed by this and slowly dying. It is also important that people are aware of this disease and understand the treatment procedure that comes along with this as well as treat people who have come in contact with an infected person to keep them from developing and spreading the disease.
Reference
https://www.everydayhealth.com/tuberculosis/the-importance-of-tuberculosis-awareness.aspx