Tuberculosis In The White Plague
Once known as “The White Plague”, tuberculosis existed as a massively feared infection with mysterious patient-frightening treatments that established itself as one of the most important issues during the Victorian era. Typically confined in sanatoriums during the early 1800’s, patients usually received little help or treatment and therefore died quickly yet painfully. For years, few options existed as the only possibilities involved either years in bed or the surgical removal of lung tissues. While a new discovery featuring the creation of antimicrobials indicated that things might be heading in the right direction, it ultimately changed little and provided almost no help in the fight against tuberculosis, “Moreover the lack of an effective vaccine, the extensive length of treatment, the prevalence of coinfection with human
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immunodeficiency virus, and the appearance of multidrug-resistant strains worsened the situation” (Sheth 1). Featuring few options, tuberculosis was largely unknown and therefore added more pressure to find a valid treatment after few things worked.
Finally, doctors discovered that the combination of drugs, which included Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Para-aminosalicylic, actually improved the conditions of tuberculosis and also revolutionized the level of treatment available. Despite the definite improvements in tuberculosis treatment, a resurgence of tuberculosis began in the 1990’s. With even more drugs such as Rifampin and Ethambutol being available as a result of the advancement of modern medicine, treatment became a quicker yet extremely variable process, since many factors weigh in to the success of a form of treatment, “The exact drugs and length of treatment depend on your age, overall health, possible drug resistance, the form of TB and the infection’s location in the body” (Staff 1). These effects all display the variety and wide range that demonstrate the large importance of the treatment of tuberculosis. Finally, the treatment of tuberculosis fundamentally impacted the importance of the awful infection throughout the Victorian Era and
beyond.
immunodeficiency virus, and the appearance of multidrug-resistant strains worsened the situation” (Sheth 1). Featuring few options, tuberculosis was largely unknown and therefore added more pressure to find a valid treatment after few things worked.
Finally, doctors discovered that the combination of drugs, which included Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Para-aminosalicylic, actually improved the conditions of tuberculosis and also revolutionized the level of treatment available. Despite the definite improvements in tuberculosis treatment, a resurgence of tuberculosis began in the 1990’s. With even more drugs such as Rifampin and Ethambutol being available as a result of the advancement of modern medicine, treatment became a quicker yet extremely variable process, since many factors weigh in to the success of a form of treatment, “The exact drugs and length of treatment depend on your age, overall health, possible drug resistance, the form of TB and the infection’s location in the body” (Staff 1). These effects all display the variety and wide range that demonstrate the large importance of the treatment of tuberculosis. Finally, the treatment of tuberculosis fundamentally impacted the importance of the awful infection throughout the Victorian Era and
beyond.