• Health

The Disease that Won’t Die: Tuberculosis in Peru

1 minute read
Three year old Franzua Quispe Murillo, suffering from Mal de Pott Tuberculosis affecting and deforming his spinal column sits on his bedside at the pulmonology ward of the ISN (National Institute for Children's Health) in Lima, Peru. Franzua's father abandoned him after birth and his mother who most likely infected him died of MDR TB. Franzua suffers additionally from family relative abandonment since the family is not only in fear of the disease but in denial that he is infected from it and with prejudice. His aunt Rosario was deeply affected by the death of her sister and rarely visits the child and when she does often keeps her distance from him, even though he is at a low level of transmission of the disease.
Three year old Franzua Quispe Murillo, suffering from Mal de Pott Tuberculosis affecting and deforming his spinal column sits on his bedside at the pulmonology ward of the ISN (National Institute for Children's Health) in Lima, Peru. Franzua's father abandoned him after birth and his mother who most likely infected him died of MDR TB. Franzua suffers additionally from family relative abandonment since the family is not only in fear of the disease but in denial that he is infected from it and with prejudice. His aunt Rosario was deeply affected by the death of her sister and rarely visits the child and when she does often keeps her distance from him, even though he is at a low level of transmission of the disease.Carlos Cazalis
By TIME Staff

Tuberculosis has been brought under control in much of the world, thanks to prevention practices and powerful antibiotics. But in poor nations like Peru, the disease still kills hundreds of babies and children — and new drug-resistant cases threaten an even bigger resurgence.

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