A Review on Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB), known as the White Plague is of great significance to humanity for the magnitude of morbidity and mortality it has generated over centuries from the very start of human civilization. In this Review, we will describe the history of prevention (vaccination and management of TB infection), diagnosis, treatment, and pulmonary rehabilitation of post-treatment sequelae. The article leads the reader through the main discoveries which paved the way to the modern approach to TB prevention and care. The history of the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine and of the diagnosis and treatment of TB infection are presented, together with that of the diagnosis and treatment of TB disease. Pivotal was in 1882 the discovery by Robert Koch of the aetiological agent of TB, and his pioneering work in culturing the bacillus and developing tuberculin. Also of enormous importance was, in 1895, the discovery of the X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen, € discovery which paved the way for the development of modern imaging technologies. To complement this, the more recent history of rehabilitation of post-treatment sequelae is summarized, given the importance, this issue has on patients’ well-being and Quality of Life.