disease in the background contemplation

[burntcopper]

Tuberculosis. Or TB, as we more commonly know it.

Odd thing. In the UK, it's an ever-present thing. Not an 'argh, we have contagion', but everyone knows about it. Unless you're an immigrant, everyone - and I mean *everyone* has the inoculation scar on their arm they got at 15, which was bloody painful and for most people, puss-ridden until it healed. We learn maybe a tiny bit about it in school as one of the diseases of history, but that's about it. The most we really know about it is that it's a disease to be - not wanted. Like measles, but more severe, and everyone can find their TB / BCG scar in two seconds.

I know in America you don't get inoculated, so how is it treated/viewed there?

Comments

[juleskicks.livejournal.com]

Not as much common knowledge, I imagine -- health care professionals, however, have to be tested annually and inoculated on a regular basis, which I know owing to being the daughter of one. *g* In fact, most nurses test positive after a certain number of years on the job, and have to go through more rigorous testing every year instead of the usual cursory one, even if they don't actually have it.