Tuberculosis in black and white : using pre-antibiotic casefiles and radiographs to explore tuberculosis in children

Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases still in existence today and is currently the leading cause of death by infectious disease. The understanding of tuberculosis in past populations is, however, limited by the uncertainty with which it can be diagnosed macroscopically in archaeological human remains. Musculoskeletal tuberculosis is the most visible form of the disease and it has been highlighted in historical research as being most common in children. Still, the issues associated with uncovering non-adult skeletal remains have made the study of tuberculosis in children inherently difficult. This relative dearth of information regarding musculoskeletal tuberculosis in children is further compounded historiographically. Historical literature has been dominated by pulmonary tuberculosis and since this occurs most frequently in young adults, it has been this age group that have received the greatest attention. This research aims to bring balance to the historical study of tuberculosis through the study of musculoskeletal tuberculosis in children using a collection of sanatorium records from the mid-twentieth century. As an interdisciplinary study this research presents a new methodological approach for ... (continues)