Tuberculosis

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the link between tuberculosis and race. The concept of a link between tuberculosis and race was based on the apparently increased susceptibility in specific populations. In the most susceptible, the disease was not only very common but also often ran an acute course with a high mortality. It was also believed that rural populations in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland were particularly susceptible. This was thought to be either because of lack of community immunity in populations not previously exposed or because of genetically determine increased susceptibility, as seen in certain selectively bred strains of laboratory animals. The belief that race had a major influence on tuberculosis tended to be reinforced by the great geographical variation in incidence. The WHO Annual Reports document compellingly the present situation about tuberculosis. The incidence in Western Europe and North America is very low but the disease remains almost as common as ever in the poorest countries of the world, and in North East Africa, the incidence may even be increasing. It is clear that none of these populations provides valid data for comparison, and the observations are not controlled for the social and environmental factors that have a major effect on the incidence of the disease. The differences in incidence show a closer relationship with national economic prosperity than with race.