Page text
Tuberculosis
Basic Facts in Picture Language
prepared by the
National Tuberculosis Association
in cooperation with the
International Foundation for Visual Ed
No text on this page.
Copyright 1939 by the
National Tuberculosis Association
What the Symbols Mean
The orange-colored figure means a healthy person.
The figure in outline with slanting lines means a person who has tuberculosis germs in his body. He is infected but not sick. Later
the germs may cause disease.
The black spot in the orange-colored figure shows that the person has had tuberculosis of the lung which is now healed. So long
as it remains healed he cannot give the disease to others.
The black figure means a person who definitely has tuberculosis disease. When rays are added to the figure it means that there
are germs in his sputum; therefore he may give the disease to others.
1One year later.
A relative or boarder who has Ten years later.
tuberculosis comes to live in the
household of this healthy man
and wife. One or both are likely
to get the disease from him.
The boarder leaves the household. The
husband has been infected. He shows
no signs of sickness.
Tuberculosis has spread in the family.
The husband is sick with tuberculosis.
The wife is infected but not sick. The
oldest child also has tuberculosis. The
second child is in perfect health. The
youngest (with black spot) shows an
infection which has healed.The Spread of Tuberculosis Can Be Prevented
Dangerous Contact Contact Broken Contact not Dangerous
One person with tuberculosis may But if he is cared for in a sanatorium When his lungs have healed and
spread the disease to many others his disease cannot spread. Modern he no longer coughs and spits up
with whom he comes in close con- methods of treating tuberculosis germs it is perfectly safe for others
tact. give lungs a chance to heal. to live with him again.
By protecting one, many are protected. That is why the fight against tuberculosis is so successful. Yet about 700,000 people in
the United States still have tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis Germs Spread from the Sick to the Healthy
The germs that cause tuberculosis grow
in the lung of the person who has the
disease. These germs are very small.
Thousands may be in a tiny drop of
sputum. They may be coughed out into
the air. A sneeze may throw them sev-
eral feet, They are in the mouth and
on the lips. Whoever comes close to
the mouth of the person who has tuber-
culosis is likely to pick up some of the
germs. Things that touch his lips may
have germs on them. Once the germs
are in the mouth of a healthy person
they may find their way into the lung.
This is how the seed of tuberculosis is
planted. Danger comes chiefly from re-
peated large doses of germs over a
period of time.Germs May Be Spread by Direct or Indirect Contact
A tuberculous mother Sick people sometimes spit on
the ground. A child may later
la pick up germs on his fingers and
rectly onto the child's carry them to his mouth.
lips.
A cough or sneeze Personal toilet articles should be
or brisk talking may used by one person only.
shower the germs in
little droplets direct-
ly to another per-
son's lips.
Sleeping in the same The exchange of anything that
bed with a sick per- has touched the lips of the sick
son is dangerous be- may be the means of carrying
i
cause of long hours germs from one person to an-
of close contact. other.These developed These did not develop
‘Age groups
Contact in the home:
A“contact" home is one in which
ELL
there is a case of tuberculosis.
ee enenin i
40 years
under 5 years TTALALLL:
No contact in the home:
A “non-contact” home is one in
which there is no case of tuber-
culosis.
People living in a contact home are more likely to get the disease than
ie aul rennet
those living in a non-contact home. Of course a single large “dose” of
tuberculosis germs from a sick person you meet only once may start
the disease, but that does not happen often.
fe it renee
Each figure: 10% of group.
Children living in contact homes are in great danger because of the
day-by-day close contact.
6Attack and Resistance
When tuberculosis germs attack the body, certain natural forces of the body fight back. We call these forces Resistance.
Strong resistance withstands nN Weak resistance may give way to
the attack of a few germs. Sy the attack of a few germs. Disease
The body remains well. SQ ~ may start.
~
So
~~. BN
~
| S
| N
Even strong resistance may ~ ~.s When resistance is weak and the
not withstand the attack of SON attack of germs is heavy, complete
many germs. Sy breakdown, that is, serious disease,
is almost sure to follow.
A strong body, good health habits and sensible living help to build strong resistance. Keeping away from people who have
tuberculosis lessens the danger of the attack of many germs.Can You Tell Who Has Tuberculosis? Six Have It; Two Do Not
Symptoms of the Sick Ones
Tired, weak Losing weight Coughing Indigestion Blood spitting Chestpain _ Husky throat
Do Po Pn Po Po Do
»»)
Joo »))Only the Doctor Can Tell Who Has Tuberculosis
He finds out about the person's home conditions, about his past life and asks about any
symptoms that may be present.
He takes the temperature, to see if there is any fever. He taps the chest with his fingers
and listens to the sounds made by breathing. The doctor's practiced ear knows what
these sounds mean.
But sometimes the changes in the lung are very slight and the sounds are not definite.
10Fortunately the X-ray helps. It makes a picture of the lung and shows where the trouble is.
ae
el
The doctor also makes a tuberculin test which shows whether or not tuberculosis germs
are in the body.
which he sends to the laboratory
He asks for a sample of for an examination to see if there
the sputum are germs in it.
When the doctor has gathered all the facts and studied them he can tell whether the person has tuberculosis or not.The X-ray Helps to Find Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis found. Tuberculosis not found.
BLL
ANAND
Each figure: 10% of groups examined.
Results of the first examination of persons later known to have tuberculosis. When the X-ray was NOT used, the doctor failed to
find tuberculosis in half the cases. Early tuberculosis is hard to find without the X-ray. When the X-ray WAS used, the doctor found
85% at the first examination.
12Delay is Dangerous
Time between first symptom and diagnosis Early Moderately advanced Far advanced
CI A
ie
less than 1 month
T10 6 months
Ci NN
6 to 12 months
Ct)
V0 4 years
CPT
| | more than 4 years
| UMN
Each figure: 10% of patients
At the left is shown how long certain people waited from the time their first symptom was noted until the doctor made a diagnosis.
At the right’is shown the stage of the disease. Doctors divide tuberculosis into three stages: Early, Moderately Advanced and
Far Advanced. The longer diagnosisis esicyes the more likelyis it that the disease will be far advanced. Early tuberculosis heals
readily. Advanced tuberculosis is serious.
13How Tuberculosis Develops in the Lung
Healthy lungs—made up of thou- Tuberculosis germs have entered
sands of tiny air spaces. one lung for the first time and
quickly spread disease over a
large part of it. person may not even feel sick.No two cases of tuberculosis are exactly alike.
These pictures show only in general how the
disease develops. There are many variations.
Later tuberculosis germs may The disease has spread to most
again attack the lung. The sec- of one lung. A large hole or cav-
\ ond attack is usually serious and ity in upper portion.
, spreads unless treated at once.Why Rest the Lung . . . and How
Vigorous exercise makes the lungs work hard.
Any injured part of the body heals
only if put at rest.
ae
Running—50 deep breaths
minute.
Walking—25 breaths
per minute.
Lying flat—10 shallow breaths Rest in bed is the treatment for tuberculosis because body rest eases the work of the lung
per minute. and gives it a chance to heal.
16Complete Lung Rest
One lung may be completely rested by a slight operation called Pneumothorax. The other lung carries on the work of breathing.
i The chest wall is painlessly pierced Air is let in and the lung collapses. When the lung has healed, it is al-
by a hollow needle, which does not, like a sponge that is squeezed. lowed to blow up again. Only the
| however, go into the lung. scars remain.The Sanatorium is the Best Place to Get Well
Everything at the sanatorium is arranged to help people get well. They
get rest, good food, fresh air and sunshine. The doctor is always on call.
Skilled nurses look after the comfort of patients. While in the sanatorium
sick persons do not spread their disease to others.The Whole Man Must Be Treated
Medical and nursing care help heal the lung. But that is not enough. Each
person must learn a new way of life. Trained workers help the patient
to learn a new trade that will not be harmful; they teach him how to fit
himself into the community when he is ready to leave the sanatorium.
Tuberculosis Should Be Found Before It Causes Disease
Ah
Fy In an eastern state more than
50 thousand high school chil-
dren were tested. About 3 out
of 5 were negative to tuber-
culin. The rest were X-rayed.
J Fs
Wa
In the great majority of these,
no signs of disease were found,
me: SS
The scars of previous disease
were found in about 1,600.
Serious disease. was found
Each figure: 10,000 students. in 72.
Systematic examination of people who are not sick is a modern way of finding early tuberculosis. One way of doing this is to
give all persons of a group, such as high school children, the tuberculin test and then to X-ray all those who have reacted positively.
20The School Helps to Fight Tuberculosis
The school and its surroundings teach
children how to live sensibly.
Health examinations are made of all
children. In some high schools this exami-
nation includes tuberculin testing to see
which children are infected with tubercu-
losis germs. Those who are, should be
X-rayed to see if any damage is being
done to the lungs.
Health habits are taught and practiced.Beds for Tuberculosis
U. S. A. Average: Every community should be able to
care for all its tuberculous persons
in good sanatoria. It has been
found that to meet the need, the
number of sanatorium beds should
be equal to the number of deaths
from tuberculosis in one year. This
Massachusetts ratio, i.e., one bed for each annual
(highest ratio) death, is a minimum. Some states
have a ratio of two beds for each
death,
Nebraska / I y foie L i} UAT,
(average) 7 | }) J | 10)HOV mil
| | Banal
lennessee Each orange strip: 100,000 population
(lowest ratio)
Each black urn: 10 deaths
Each red bed: 10 hospital bedsTuberculosis Death Rates According to Age and Sex
i Male Female
om 2
:
eolendioven Ps Ps
Under15 ie ie
| Notice that tuberculosis
5 So SS 2% 2% Se S% & takes its largest toll during
youth and middle age. |
More girls than boys (15 to
29) die of tuberculosis but
in later ages, male deaths
outnumber female deaths.
Each orange group: 2,500,000 population.
Each urn: 2,500 deaths from tuberculosis.Poverty Breeds Tuberculosis
Monthly rentals $10 to $ 20
BE EI
Monthly rentals $ 30 to $ 45
Monthly rentals § 5:
| (|
Each urn: 25 deaths per 100,000
white population.
Tuberculosis may attack anybody but it is most common among the poor. Poverty itself does not cause tuberculosis (only the tuber-
culosis germ can do that) but poor housing, crowding and careless living make it easier for the disease to spread from person to
person. Hunger, worry, overwork, make it easier for the disease to develop once it has attacked.
24Occupation Influences Tuberculosis
Professional men Tuberculosis is more common among poorly
paid workers than among those who are well
paid. A few occupations like mining, stone
cutting and grinding are a definite hazard
for tuberculosis but the chief influence of
occupation on tuberculosis is the wage level
i Clerks, etc. and the standard of living it makes possible.
Agricultural workers
Skilled workers
Unskilled workers
Each urn: 25 deaths from tuberculosis per
100,000 workers in the age of 25 to 44 years
25Race and Tuberculosis
White ch me Negroes
1910
1920
1934
© 606
Each urn: 50 deaths per 100,000 population
Deaths from tuberculosis among Negroes are about three times as many as among whites. However, the number
of deaths among
Negroes has decreased as rapidly as among whites. Today tuberculosis deaths among Negroes are relatively as many
as deaths
among whites in 1910.
26Tuberculosis Is Declining
: : :
Each urn: 5 deaths per 10,000 population Since 1900 there has been a steady decrease of all deaths
Each black urn: 5 deaths per 10,000 population (excepting (per population) in the United States. Tuberculosis deaths have
tuberculosis) decreased even more rapidly. In 1900 every ninth death was
due to tuberculosis. In 1910 every tenth; in 1920 every twelfth
Each grey urn: 5 deaths from tuberculosis per 10,000 population and in 1934 every nineteenth.
7Progress in the Tuberculosis Fight
Long ago In bygone days tuberculosis was a hopeless disease and death was expected.
Yesterday For the past 30 years better medical care has been restoring many to health.
Today Now we try also to prevent development of the disease after infection has
token place.
Tomorrow Why not prevent infection entirely and wipe out tuberculosis!Isotype, the picture language in which this book is written, was originated
by the International Foundation for Visual Education, a non-profit organiza-
tion with headquarters in The Hague, Holland. The staff of the Foundation
consists of sociologists, teachers, designers and artists who work as one unit.
The aim of Isotype is to express ideas simply, clearly and directly and in such
manner that people of all the world and of all classes will understand them.
Isotype makes use of symbols. These symbols are not altered to suit each new
situation but always mean the same. By combining the symbols and by their
arrangements, complex ideas as well as simple ones may be expressed
visually and dramatically.
National Tuberculosis Association
50 West 50 St., New York, N. Y.
International Foundation for Visual Education
fit
American Office
oO
130 East 22 St., New York, N. Y. ISOryRENo text on this page.
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