Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, which attacks the lungs. The disease can infect other parts of the body if it is not treated promptly. TB spreads through the air from person to person by coughing, sneezing, and/or talking. At its peak, tuberculosis killed one in seven people who lived in the United States and Europe. The outbreak in America took place from 1895 to 1954. It took the life of many in the US and throughout the world. It is considered to be one of the deadliest diseases in history.
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The symptoms of TB include the following:
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Coughing that lasts three weeks or longer
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Weight loss
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Loss of appetite
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Coughing up blood or mucus
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Weakness/Fatigue
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Fever
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Night Sweats
TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that attacks the lungs, which can later affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or talking.
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Additionally, both world wars contributed to the spread of TB for the following reasons:
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Poison gas
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Inadequate ventilation
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Overcrowding
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Malnutrition
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Prolonged physical and mental strain
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Shortage of medical care
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Conversion of latent infection to active disease
Talley’s Folly
As the production progresses, the audience becomes aware that Sally was once betrothed to another man when she was younger. However, Sally became infected with tuberculosis before the marriage could take place and because of the illness, Sally was left unable to carry children and the wedding was called off. Sally was lucky to even survive the disease because antibiotics were not discovered until 1943, which was after her recovery. The disease greatly changed the direction of Sally’s life and is something that brings her and Matt closer together.
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https://medlineplus.gov/tuberculosis.html
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6819a3.htm?s_cid=mm6819a3_w
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday/history.htm
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201501-0135OE
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