Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB (short for tubercle bacillus), in the past also called phthisis, phthisis pulmonalis, or consumption, is a widespread, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air. Most infections do not have symptoms, known as latent tuberculosis. About one in ten latent infections eventually progresses to active disease which, if left untreated, kills more than 50% of those so infected.

Notable people who died of tuberculosis

• Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D Roosevelt (1884-1962)
• Vivien Leigh, actress (1913-1967)
• Frederic Chopin, pianist, composer (1810-1849)
• Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the US (1767-1845)
• George Orwell, English author (1903-1950)
• Franz Kafka, German-language writer (1883-1924)
• Henry David Thoreau, American author (1817-1862)
• Denholm Elliott, English actor (1922-1992)
• Karol Szymanowski, Polish composer & pianist (1882-1937)
• Jane Austen, English novelist (1775-1817)
• Charles IX, King of France 1560-till death (1550-1574)
• Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal of Richelieu, French noble & statesman (1585-1642)
• Helene Costello, American stage & film actress during silent era (1906-1957)
• Barbara La Marr, American stage & film actress (1896-1926)
• Wallace Thurman, American novelist (1902-1934)
• Manuel L. Quezon, 2nd President of the Philippines (1878-1944)
• Marcelo H. del Pilar, Filipino writer, lawyer, journalist, and freemason (1850-1896)
• Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan military and political leader (1783-1830)

External links

• Wikipedia; Category:Deaths from tuberculosis.
• Ranker.com's Featured Lists; Famous People Who Died of Tuberculosis
• Infectious Diseases in History, by Brian Williams BA (Hons) in 1997
• Wikipedia - Tuberculosis

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