Annals of the antituberculosis treatment in Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: tuberculosis is caused by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. In Cuba, the first references to tuberculosis appeared in the Chapter Acts of the Havana City Council.  The organization of public services against tuberculosis coincided in Cuba with the first American military intervention and with the foundation of the Anti-Tuberculosis League in 1902.

Objective: to describe the main antecedents in the treatment of tuberculosis in Cuba.

Methods: a review of articles published in the databases PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Google, about the antituberculosis treatment in Cuba and the organization of health care services was carried out. A total of 28 articles were reviewed, of which 23 were chosen for the present research.

Development: the fight against tuberculosis constituted an incentive for the activity of some Cuban physicians. Tuberculosis was one of the main causes of casualties in the Spanish Army during the Independence Wars. In 1092, the Anti-Tuberculosis League was founded. In 1942 vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin began. In 1946 anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy began with the use of streptomycin. In Cuba there were anti-tuberculosis clinics and sanatoriums.

Conclusions: the Spanish colonial government was never concerned about the control of tuberculosis. During the first years of the 20th century, the first organization was created to fight against this entity. During the following years, institutions were created and measures were taken to control the disease, without achieving an adequate control.