A brief history of tuberculosis in the Czech Lands

Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2017 Jul:105:35-48. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2017.04.006. Epub 2017 Apr 19.

Abstract

Tuberculosis currently remains a serious medical problem, therefore increased attention is being paid to this disease. Paleopathological studies focused on the monitoring of morbid changes in skeletal remains of historical populations facilitate a detailed study of the development of this disease. They provide direct evidence of the existence of tuberculosis and its past forms. In addition to literary and iconographic sources, the present study is focused on recording the findings of bone tuberculosis in historical osteological sets from the Czech Lands and is the starting point for their detailed review. Approximately 76 cases of bone tuberculosis from the Czech Lands have been published and more or less reliably documented from 20 archeological sites dated back from the Eneolithic to the modern period.

Keywords: Central Europe; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Paleopathology; Skeletal remains; Specific inflammation.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriological Techniques
  • Czech Republic / epidemiology
  • Czechoslovakia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • History, 15th Century
  • History, 16th Century
  • History, 17th Century
  • History, 18th Century
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • History, Ancient
  • History, Medieval
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity
  • Paleopathology
  • Prevalence
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / history
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / history*
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / prevention & control

Substances

  • Tuberculosis Vaccines