Morales HN, Beldarraín CE

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 6-14
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ABSTRACT

Introduction: tuberculosis is an infectious contagious disease of acute, subacute or chronic evolution. Known before the year 1 000 B.C., news about its presence in Cuba dates back to 1630. Cuban doctors' knowledge about the condition appeared in specialized publications.
Objective: present the main aspects of the history of tuberculosis control in Cuba.
Methods: the historical-logical method was applied, supported by document review.
Results: the fight against tuberculosis started in Cuba in the late 19th century. A description is provided of the actions taken until the year 1930. The Anti- Tuberculosis League was founded at the end of the 19 th century, and acquired nationwide scope at the beginning of the 20th century. Dispensaries were built for ambulatory treatment. The first inpatient sanatorium was founded in 1907. However, after the second decade, the fight against tuberculosis witnessed a decline. In the second half of the 1920s, a specific professorship was created to be taught at the School of Medicine and institutions which would reinforce, at least theoretically, the work aimed at improving the status of the disease in the population.
Conclusions: during the early years of the 20th century, the first services for the treatment of tuberculosis were created and incipient control of the disease was started. Insufficient as the services and actions were, they constituted an attempt to improve the status of the disease in the population.