Abstract
First, let us ascertain what Tuberculosis is. Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria which infects the lungs and hinders the proper functioning of the respiratory system. Pulmonary TB is when the lungs are infected, while extra-pulmonary TB is when the other portions of the body is infected like kidneys, bones, and even lymph nodes. Tuberculosis is a lingering epidemic which most people ignore. About 1,300 cases are reported annually in the state of New York alone. On a global scale, more than one-third of the world’s population is infected with this contagious disease. TB bacterium and the disease itself are considered one of the most dangerous and contagious disease in the world, which is causes relative diseases and death as well. More than 8 million people become ill with TB annually, and more than 2 million die from this dreaded disease alone. In 1995, 22% of all foreign-born persons with TB (8% of the national total) were born in the Hispanic state of Mexico; of these, 81% were reported by the four U.S. states bordering Mexico — Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas)The bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the primary culprit for the disease tuberculosis.
In 1882, Scientist Robert Koch discovered the bacteria, which he described as rod-shaped germs or bacilli in appearance with the help of his humble microscope. The bacteria can also inflict cattle animals, the bacterium in cattle is known as Mycobacterium Bovis. Experts believe that Tuberculosis became wide-spread due to the domestic proliferation of cattle centuries ago. TB germs can be transmitted from drinking a cow’s milk which is infected by the disease. However, pasteurization has helped farmers eliminate the disease from spoiling their cattle, because the pasteurization process destroys residual bacilli (Health-Cares.net, 2005).
Tuberculosis along with its consequent stigmas and discrimination issues are associated with the barriers, which halt the progress of providing apt care, support, and treatments for patients. Such stigmas are deemed universal, and are considered perilous per se, which leads to feelings of indifference and isolation of people who endure TB. Tuberculosis tends to generate unfavorable notions that lead people to do and omit things. Matters which are supposed to be done, and tends to have a consequences that deny them entitlements which is caused by relative discrimination. For instance, most health workers are the primary cause of TB discrimination whenever a person is not admitted in a hospital for treatment or in a prison that denies a prisoner his right to be treated through health services privileges. The stigmatization of Tuberculosis traces its root from deep-seated social norms and structures. Such stigma greatly affects Hispanic individuals, which give them even more social pressures. This also makes them even more prone and vulnerable to marginalization along with the consequences of contracting component of this work plan that reflects its priority to address the disparity of TB patients and the people around them. Arguably, TB is considered “the disease of the poor”, which tends to associate Hispanic countries like Mexico. It is surmised that the recent link with the HIV virus have surfaced due to the HIV stigma that affects TB patients shown in high-HIV prevalent communities. It hampers the consequences of having TB alone namely: divorce, desertion and separation from their children. Studies have shown that women and the Hispanic population are highly affected by the stigma that TB carries, which deters them from being cured and disheartens them from requesting a diagnosis in order to be treated immediately. This paper further discusses the very nature of Tuberculosis, its causes and, its alternative treatments.