The Anti-tuberculosis Battle in Greece in the 1800s and 1900s

Cureus. 2022 Jun 16;14(6):e26023. doi: 10.7759/cureus.26023. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs (known as pulmonary tuberculosis). Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a species of pathogenic bacteria in the family of Mycobacteriaceae and the causative agent of tuberculosis; it was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882. From about 1918 to 1939, tuberculosis in Greece was characterized as a social disease because it seemed to spread among the lower social classes, including displaced people living in refugee camps. The battle against tuberculosis involved private initiatives aimed at educating people on hygiene and establishing anti-tuberculosis institutions, such as sanatoria and preventoria.

Keywords: artificial pneumothorax; bcg vaccine; phrenicotomy; robert koch; sanatoria.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Special Account for Research Grants.