Overview of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis

This article explores various respiratory disorders, including respiratory muscle paralysis and tuberculosis. It highlights causes, historical context, and measures for prevention and control, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and improved treatment strategies to combat these health challenges.

The lungs are vulnerable to numerous infections and serious conditions, including cancers and other diseases that impair respiratory function. Injuries that damage the nervous system can also hinder nerve signals from reaching respiratory muscles, leading to breathing difficulties. Advances in surgical repair for spinal injuries provide hope for affected individuals. Several respiratory disorders can impact health: respiratory muscle paralysis from spinal cord injuries, viral infections like poliomyelitis affecting nerve control, and central nervous system depressants impacting respiration. Tuberculosis (TB), a persistent global threat, remains a major concern despite medical progress. In the 19th century, TB outbreaks were widespread in Europe and North America, but Robert Koch identified its bacterial cause in 1882. Vaccines and drugs have made progress, yet TB reemerged, especially in the 1980s, and was declared a global emergency by WHO in 1993. HIV complicates TB treatment by weakening immunity, and factors like malnutrition and poor hygiene in developing nations exacerbate its spread. Resistance to antibiotics has increased, requiring combination therapies. The BCG vaccine, administered in childhood, has significantly aided prevention and early detection. Increased awareness, affordable treatments, and close monitoring remain essential for controlling TB worldwide.