Famous People with Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, or TB for short, is a fairly common and oftentimes fatal infection caused by bacteria which primarily infects the lungs and pulmonary system of the body. But it can also wreak havoc on other areas as well.

The TB bacteria travels through the air and can be transmitted to others when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

Tina Turner

Most of the tuberculosis infection cases don’t exhibit symptoms, and are therefore known as latent infections. About one in ten of those latent cases progress to active disease, which has a fatality rate of more than 50%, when not quickly treated.

In the past, tuberculosis was commonly referred to as consumption, and many people were afflicted with the illness. A large variety of authors across several different genres had the infection, and often used the widespread health crisis as a part of their writings. Anton Chekov, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Franz Kafka, and George Orwell all died from the disease.

Orwell struggled with recovery throughout his life, spending time in a hospital devoted to TB, and finally passing in 1950 from a hemorrhaged lung. The Bronte sisters, Anne and Emily, along with their brother Branwell, all died of tuberculosis within two years of each other. Their other sister, Charlotte is suspected to have died from tuberculosis in 1855. Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson suffered from tuberculosis during most of his life.

Ringo Starr

The world also lost many influential composers to the infectious disease. Frederic Chopin died at only 39, and frequently had disease-related complications during performances. Stephen Foster, Igor Stravinsky, and Hermann Goetz also had the disease.

Tuberculosis is not limited to 19th century musicians and novelists. In recent times, many pop culture icons have struggled with the infection and its complications. From Tina Turner to Ringo Starr and even Carlos Santana, the disease knows no boundaries and doesn’t discriminate.

Tina Turner was diagnosed at the age of 31, and oftentimes had to perform while suffering from the infection due to the demands of her ex-husband. The former drummer for the Beatles contributes his love of music to the times he spent alone, confined to a clean room in England during the 40’s while he suffered from TB. Carlos Santana was only 18 and on his own in California when he was diagnosed, and spent three months recovering in the hospital.

British folk singer Cat Stevens (currently known as Yusuf Islam) contributes his change of lifestyle and spirituality to his suffering from TB. At the age of 19, the singer became seriously ill and suffered a collapsed lung and was on the verge of death. Also Nelson Mandela suffered from TB after spending much time in a dark, damp cell.

Nelson Mandela

One third of the world is believed to have tuberculosis infections, and new infections occur each year. The basic symptoms of an active infection are a chronic cough that produces blood, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Treatment requires long term antibiotics and currently antibiotic resistant TB strains have become a growing problem. Prevention relies on vaccination.