History of Tuberculosis and its Present Status

Capstone SLP 1: Tuberculosis
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Capstone SLP 1: Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is highly infectious. The disease has caused severe health and social implications throughout human history. Historically, TB has been given different names, which includes phthisis, White Plague and consumption. It is argued that this Mycobacterium existed over 150 million years ago (Barberis, et al, 2017). The first remedy that was effectively developed took place with the introduction of the sanatorium cure, and this occurred when Robert Koch, a famous scientist, isolated the tubercle bacillus in 1882. MT has survived for more than 70,000 years, and has infected close to 2 billion individuals worldwide (Barberis, et al, 2017). Nearly 10.4 million new cases of TB are reported annually, and close to 33% of the world’s population carry the latent form of TB and they are therefore at risk for developing the active form of the disease.
The tuberculin skin test was developed by Clemens von Pirquet in 1907. The technique was used three years later to reveal that there was a latent infection of TB in asymptomatic children. Treatment procedures for TB patient occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries, with certain procedures being supplemented by pulmonary collapse approaches that rested those parts of the lungs that were infected and closed the cavities (Daniel, 2006). Approaches of combating the spread of TB were implemented as a public health strategies after it was discovered that the illness was caused by bacteria. After the First World War, there was a wide application of the BCG vaccination. Treatment of TB in the contemporary era has been enhanced after streptomycin was discovered in 1944 and isoniazid in 1952 (Barberis, et al, 2017). TB still remains to be a huge health concern challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that a combined strategy of better diagnostic tools, medication, and preventative strategies are being used to ensure that TB is eradicated by 2050.
Tuberculosis in North Carolina
Research studies have been conducted in North Carolina to analyze the incidences, trends, and subgroups that are at risk of being TB infection and the implications for healthcare personnel. From 1980 to 1999, there were 13,564 cases of TB incidences that were reported in North Carolina, which translated to an annual average of 678 new cases (Salihu, Naik, O'Brien, et al 2012). In 1980, a peak of 1,066 cases was recorded but incidences of the illness have been on the decline. Only 488 cases were reported in 1999, which was a drop of 54.2%. Comparing the TB rates in North Carolina and the entire country show that TB incidences has been reducing. This is indicated in the table and graph below.
Year

U.S. Case

NC TB

NC Case

NC Rank


Rate*

Cases

Rate*

by Rate^











1980

12.3

1066

18.7

3

1981

11.9

981

16.5

8

1982

11.0

806

13.4

12

1983

10.2

780

12.8

13

1984

9.4

75...