Tuberculosis: a global emergency.

This paper presents an analysis of Tuberculosis (TB). Specifically addressed are the history of its development and treatment; its current resurgence; the global impact of this resurgence; the social issues responsible for the resurgence including poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and increased immigration from TB endemic areas of the world; and the political, economic and ethical issues affecting its incidence today including inadequate funding, California's Proposition 187, pharmaceutical corporation profit motives, directly observed therapy and forced confinement of non-compliant patients.