Not medical advice. This site is general information only. In an emergency call your local emergency number. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.

Tuberculosis

InfectiousMycobacterium tuberculosisAncient (1500 BC)Airborne
TypeInfectious
CauseMycobacterium tuberculosis
First KnownAncient (1500 BC)
TransmissionAirborne

About Tuberculosis

TB has killed over 1 billion people throughout history. Found in Egyptian mummies. Called consumption because patients wasted away. Keats, Chopin, Kafka, and Orwell all died of it. Streptomycin, discovered in 1943, was the first effective treatment. Still kills 1.3 million per year. Drug-resistant TB is a growing crisis.

Related Diseases