Historical and Social Considerations upon Tuberculosis

Abstract

The present article offers a concise perspective on tuberculosis (TB) ranging from antiquity to the present day and highlights the dangerousness of the disease in the light of its historical manifestations and current antibiotic resistance. Reflections on the social and economic impact of tuberculosis are presented together with notes on TB’s interplay with malnutrition and the social stigma linked to this disease in modern times. Different types of evidence from palaeopathological to artistic ones are offered and the need for a more comprehensive understanding on the disease’s history and evolution is stressed.