Spread of disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Spread of disease - Essay Example The humoral theory was the hub of cause of disease in the European world till it was phased off by the germ theory that was first conceived in the sixteenth century. It took three centuries for the germ theory to be completely developed and it was accepted in the nineteenth century (Thargard, 1997). Robert Koch made the first discovery of the cause of disease where he postulated bacterium as the cause of tuberculosis in 1882. In 1932, Prontosil drug was discovered by Gerhard Domagk as the drug that could eradicate the microbe that Koch had stipulated. Moreover, in 1944, streptomycin was discovered and proved to be the most efficient treatment in killing the microbe. This served as the genesis of treatment regimes which are currently aimed at treating the symptom, eradicating the cause, and changing the course of the disease hence altering the spread of the disease (Thargard, 1997). Latest technology in the twentieth century has led to a more pragmatic approach to spread of disease since it has led to the discovery of nutritional, genetic and immunological causes of disease. The discovery of these aspects has made individuals learn the roles that nutrition plays in preventing spread of disease and also the immunological aspects that sanitation plays in preventing the spread of disease. Genetically, sanitation has progressed since it has aided in the discovery of how some aspect in an individual predisposes them more to acquire infection compared to other individuals. Consequently, knowledge of the immune system has led to the development of vaccines that aid in the protecting the spread of disease. Inventions have also been made in treatment modalities like laser, surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy all aimed in preventing the spread of disease (Thargard, 1997). Hippocrates a Greek philosopher existed between 430 and 330 B.C. He was a key player in the spread of disease theory since he coined the humoral theory that served as a