WordGarden.iotuberculosis
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /tjˌuːbəkjʊlˈəʊsɪs/
US
- /təˌbɜrkjəˈloʊsɪs/
Meanings
Noun
a serious infectious bacterial disease that usually affects the lungs
Beyond the definition
Tuberculosis is not just an old medical term. It is a serious infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other parts of the body. For centuries, it was called "consumption" because people with the illness often became very thin and weak. Today, TB can usually be cured with the right course of antibiotics, although drug-resistant forms are a growing concern. It appears often in 19th-century literature because the disease was so common at the time.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily spreads through the air when a person with an active infection coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. While most commonly associated with the lungs (pulmonary TB), the bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to affect other organs such as the kidneys, spine, and brain (extrapulmonary TB).
Historically, TB was a leading cause of death worldwide, earning grim nicknames like "the White Plague" due to the pale appearance of patients. The disease gained significant notoriety in the 19th and early 20th centuries because of its prevalence in crowded, industrial cities. Many iconic artists, writers, and musicians—including Frédéric Chopin, John Keats, and Franz Kafka—suffered from the disease, and it was often romanticized in operas and novels as a "lingering" or "sensitive" way to die.
Today, while TB remains a major global health challenge, especially in lower-resource parts of the world, it is largely preventable and curable. However, the rise of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a serious threat to public health. Early diagnosis and careful completion of treatment are crucial for recovery and for preventing further spread. Public health efforts, including the BCG vaccine and screening programs, continue to play a vital role in controlling this long-standing disease.
Examples
- 1
Diagnosis
She was diagnosed with tuberculosis after months of coughing.
- Patterndiagnosed with + disease
told by a doctor that you have that disease
- 2
Household testing
The clinic tested everyone in the household for tuberculosis.
- 3
Transmission risk
Tuberculosis can spread more easily in crowded places with poor ventilation.
- 4
Treatment
Although tuberculosis is curable, early treatment is very important.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public health
In some parts of the world, tuberculosis remains a major public health problem.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- pulmonary tuberculosis
- active tuberculosis
Contrast
- latent tuberculosis infection
- pneumonia
Used with (collocations)
- tuberculosis test
- tuberculosis treatment
- drug-resistant tuberculosis
Word family
Explore
- mycobacterium tuberculosis
- airborne transmission
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tuberculosisnoun
Forms
- tuberculosespluralnoun