Who Will Be Affected?
Although Tuberculosis can affect anyone, those at greatest risk are the poor, the young, and the old.
The poor are at a
greater risk because they often live in close quarters with unsanitary living
conditions.
When Tuberculosis was prevalent in Wisconsin around the turn of the
20th century, Milwaukee was a hotbed for Tuberculosis outbreaks.
It
is documented, however, that rates of Tuberculosis were higher in the rural
areas of Dunn County. Scientists hypothesize that Tuberculosis
was spread so easily in rural areas because large families lived often shared bedrooms, bathing water, and eating and drinking utensils.
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In addition to the poor, young and old people are also at a greater risk because their immune systems are often not as strong as healthy adults.
Smokers and those with HIV/AIDS are also at a greater risk to develop Tuberculosis because of their decreased immune system functioning.
Smokers have been found to be two to four times more likely to contract Tuberculosis than the rest of the population.
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Because Tuberculosis is an airborne pathogen (usually inhaled through infected airborne sputum), those who around infected people are
very likely to contract the disease. Therefore, healthcare workers are at great risk of contracting Tuberculosis as well.
This is why sanatoriums were very popular in the 20th century. By establishing regimens of lots of sleep, healthy eating, and exercise,
sanatoriums were promoting healthy immune system functioning in their clients.
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