Tuberculosis- Module 12
I found it interesting that even though there were many advantages such as more wealth, higher production in goods, emergence of social movements and unions, and advances during the industrial revolution, it also contributed to spreading many diseases such as tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is what causes this disease and usually affects the lungs. It is transmitted via tiny droplets through the air as well as sneezing, coughing, and talking. Some symptoms include coughing, lethargy, and chest pain.
In the 18th century, the industrial revolution
was developing in Britain. During these times, people were moving away from the
suburbs towards urban living. As the population increased with emerging cities- industries (water, coal, steam) appeared, factories surfaced, and wealth increased; there was still a lack in public health and few developments in epidemiology knowledge.
These changes in lifestyle allowed for tuberculosis to easily spread. The now
overpopulated cities and living conditions provided a proper environment for
the disease to live in. The proximity of the population resulted in many cases and
deaths from tuberculosis.
During these times, the lack of education also impacted the
spread of the disease. Although sanitation reform was arising in the 19th
century, the public still lacked knowledge. Many people believed that diseases
were spread through bad smells and Louis Pasteur didn’t discover microbes until
1864. Pasteur later contributed to vaccines and immunity procedures. The society
was characterized by overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and pollution- especially
for workers; these exposures led to conditions where contagious diseases easily
spread.
Currently, researchers at the Museum of London are looking
at skeletons to observe and locate diseases to the Industrial Revolution. Jelena
Bekvalac initiated a project to examine over 2,500 skeletons to “examine the
influence of the Industrial Revolution on the changing nature of disease from
the medieval and post-medieval periods through to the present day.” By observing rib lesions, they can decide if respiratory
diseases were present. They are taking their research even further to investigate
other diseases such as osteoporosis and cancer that have development from the revolution.
Isolates of tuberculosis were able to spread, and some
bacteria even developed drug resistance. Latent TB is a form in which a patient
does not have symptoms nor are contagious. The immune system prevents spreading
but can become active. Active TB like it sounds, is when the germs are
spreading and reproducing; this form is contagious. Either of these forms can be drug resistant. Overall,
it is interesting to see how the Industrial Revolution contributed to the spread
of multiple diseases and how they relate to one another. In a way, there was a juxtaposition between the advantages in society and the expansion in disease.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/public-health/National-developments-in-the-18th-and-19th-centuries
https://www.webmd.com/lung/understanding-tuberculosis-basics
Prutha,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post and your description of how industrialization and urbanizing gave tuberculosis a foothold in spreading. I also love how you mentioned the publics distrust of bad smells. I think it's quite fascinating to compare what we know now, to what we thought we knew back then.
Hey there Prutha,
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know that the industrial revolution played a factor in regards to TB. In addition, it's quite interesting how they would look at the ribs in order to determine whether it was a respiratory disease. Great job!
Prutha, you blog about TB is fascinating. I didn't know the history of TB although I have learned about it in my Global Health Class and how it still affects third world countries.
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