Spoštovani kupci!
Zaradi prenove spletne strani in prehoda na OJS spletna prodaja trenutno ne dela. Prosim, če sporočite, kaj bi radi kupili, na prodaja@medrazgl.si. Dopišite vaše ime in priimek, naslov ter način plačila (s predračunom, ob povzetju ali z gotovino, če prezvamete gradivo v živo v prostorih uredištva v času uradnih ur).
Hvala za razumevanje!
MENU
Anatomy
Anesthesiology
Biochemistry
Biomedical Informatics
Biophysics
Cell Biology
Clinical Cases
Dentistry
Dermatovenerology
Emergency Medicine
Family Medicine
Forensic Medicine
Gynecology and Obstetrics
Histology and Embryology
History of Medicine
Human Genetics
Hygiene
Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Medical Deontology and Philosophy
Medical Psychology
Microbiology and Immunology
Neurology
Occupational Medicine
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopaedics
Otorhinolaryngology
Pathology
Pathophysiology
Pediatrics
Pharmacology and Experimental Toxicology
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
Physiology
Psychiatry
Radiology
Social Medicine
Surgery
Toxicology
Research papers
Clinical research paper
Preclinical research paper
Sponsored articles
Archive » 2012 » 3-4 » | Archive » Medical field » Fields » History of Medicine »

Medical and Public Health Perspectives in the General History of Tuberculosis and the History of Tuberculosis among Slovenes

 
Abstract:

This post is also available in: English Slovenščina (Slovenian)

This review deals with the history of tuberculosis from the medical and social perspectives. It presents tuberculosis as an old disease with traces of it found on the human body as far back as prehistoric times, which spread the most with industrialization. For this so-called white plague, medicine did not have an effective cure until the 20th century. The earliest relatively successful curative methods for tuberculosis treatment were isolation, rest cure, climatotherapy, dietotherapy and moral support of tuberculosis patients. They were treated in sanatoriums, which were accessible only to wealthy patients. With Robert Koch’s discovery of the tuberculosis pathogen in 1882, there were substantial developments in medicine and subsequently also several revolutionary changes as attempts were made to develop a vaccine. The public health aspect of fighting tuberculosis with dispensary and educational programmes already led to major successes between World War I and II. After the introduction of streptomycin in tuberculosis treatment after World War II, it seemed that medicine had finally won the battle with tuberculosis. At the same time, palliative methods for tuberculosis treatment were developed, including extrapleural pneumothorax and other successful collapse and resection therapy methods. Epidemiological tracing of tuberculosis also played an important role in fighting this disease among Slovenes. The introduction of the Tuberculosis Register at Golnik, dispensary work, hospital treatment, mass vaccination, and fluorography screenings led to a significant decrease in tuberculosis. In mid-1960’s, tuberculosis was under total control in Slovenia and since 2005 non-selective vaccination of newborns is no longer obligatory. Nevertheless, tuberculosis still is and remains a disease of the poor, although it is also found in developed countries, where many people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis does not respond to routine treatment with antitubercular agents. Despite exceptional developments in the field of medicine, tuberculosis thus promises no rest for experts in the foreseeable future.

Authors:
Jaunig Senta, Zupanič Slavec Zvonka

Keywords:
tuberculosis, history of medicine, public health, sanatorium, antituberculosis work, antituberculosis vaccination, fluorography screening

Cite as:
Med Razgl. 2012; 51: 507–23.
© 2024 Društvo Medicinski razgledi | Na vrh strani / To top ↑