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Once a prime cause of death around the world, tuberculosis is seen today mainly in underdeveloped societies. Fear of recurrence in the Western world is surfacing, especially in military barracks, prisons, inner city ghettos, and communities of immune suppressed men (AIDS). Pasteurization of milk has reduced greatly the incidence of bovine tuberculosis, which a generation ago commonly affected the intestinal tract. The lungs are now most often afflicted with development of characteristic abnormalities detectable by X-ray.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include fatigue, night sweats, cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and rarely the coughing up of blood. During all of these activities droplets are sprayed from the lungs, which may contain tubercle bacilli. Using a tissue to trap the aerosolized particles, and disposing of it immediately will prevent most of the contagion due to tuberculosis.

In chronic pulmonary tuberculosis, chest x-rays show scars with scattered calcium deposits. These, however, during a time of lowered resistance may reactivate, producing illness and contagion once again. The TB skin test, when positive, indicates a person has previously contacted tuberculosis germs and that his immune system recognizes and sets up a battle against them. PPD (purified protein derivative) or Tine tests for tuberculosis are helpful screening procedures to detect active infection in the community. Public health laboratories then will perform sputum cultures and other needed follow-up measures in the detection and treatment of this illness.

Avoidance of contact with other people, particularly in the spread of the respiratory form, and hygienic healing measures, especially sunshine, adequate rest and proper diet, may produce a natural cure of most cases. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis involving bones and kidneys has responded to prolonged exposure to sunlight in some European health centers.

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