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

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

Spyros N Michaleas  1 , Athanase D Protogerou  2 , Nikolaos V Sipsas  2 , George Panayiotakopoulos  3 , Angelos-Charidimos Angelakis  1 , Christina Michailidou  1 , Marianna Karamanou  1
Affiliations
Review

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

Spyros N Michaleas et al. Cureus. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Robert Koch
Permission has been granted to use the image. Credit: Portrait of Robert Herman Koch (1843-1910), bacteriologist. Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Permission has been granted to use the image. Credit: Portrait of W. C. Roentgen. Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
Figure 3
Figure 3. Léon Charles Albert Calmette
Permission has been granted to use the image. Credit: Albert Calmette. Photograph. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Artificial pneumothorax device
Permission has been granted to use the image. Source: Panagiotakos P: Tuberculosis and sanatoria (early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis) (Book in Greek). BG Teubner, Leipzig; 1922 [3].
Figure 5
Figure 5. The emblem of the Panhellenic Association Against Tuberculosis
Permission has been granted to use the image. Source: Patrikios V: Instructions for protection against tuberculosis (Book in Greek). Estia, Athens; 1902 [6].
Figure 6
Figure 6. Decalogue Against Tuberculosis
Permission has been granted to use the image. Source: Panhellenic Association Against Tuberculosis: The reports of the association (January 1, 1908-December 31, 1909). Athens; 1910 [23].
Figure 7
Figure 7. The emblem of the First Hellenic Conference Against Tuberculosis
The emblem of the Conference bears Apollo, god of medicine, marking Python with his bow through a tripod. Python symbolizes tuberculosis, while the tripod strengthens the sacred character of the intended purpose, which is none other than the extermination of the “monster.” Permission has been granted to use the image. Source: Kouzis A: Proceedings of the First Hellenic Congress Against Tuberculosis. Chiotis N, Rouseas K, Athens; 1909 [24].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Kalliarekos I. Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; 2014. The sanatorium of Asvestochori ( 1920-1945): relations between patients and society (Book in Greek)
    1. Vlastos F. Ioannina: University of Ioannina; 2005. The therapeutical approach of tuberculosis in Greece during the 20th century (Book in Greek)
    1. Panagiotakos P. B.G. Teubner: Leipzig. Leipzig: 1922. Tuberculosis and sanatoria (early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis) (Book in Greek)
    1. Doctors on the social issue. The anti-tuberculosis battle in the early 20th century (1901-1926) (Article in Greek) Theodorou V. Mnimon. 2002;24:145–178.
    1. Marselou A. Corfu: Ionian University; 2013. Malaria and tuberculosis in Greek territories from the end of 19th to the middle of 20th century (Book in Greek)

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