In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 4 ( 2021-4-14), p. e0249939-
Abstract:
Ancient human remains exhibiting bony changes consistent with osteoarticular tuberculosis (OATB) indicate that the disease has afflicted mankind for millennia. Nonetheless, not many pediatric OATB cases have been published in the paleopathological literature–from Hungary, only three cases have been described up to now. In our paper, we demonstrate a child ( S0603 ) from the Árpádian Age cemetery of Győrszentiván-Révhegyi tag (northwestern Hungary), who represents a unique case of OATB regarding both the pattern and severity of the observed bony changes. During the macromorphological and radiological investigations, the most serious alterations were discovered in the upper thoracic spine–the development of osteolytic lesions led to severe bone loss and consequent collapse and fusion of several adjacent vertebrae. The pathological process terminated in a sharp, rigid angular kyphosis. Disruption of the normal spine curvature resulted in consequent deformation of the whole thoracic wall–it became “rugby-ball-shaped”. The overall nature and pattern of the detected alterations, as well as their resemblance to those of described in previously published archaeological and modern cases from the pre-antibiotic era indicate that they are most consistent with OATB. Based on the severity and extent of the lesions, as well as on the evidence of secondary healing, S0603 suffered from TB for a long time prior to death. Besides body deformation, OATB resulted in consequent disability in daily activities, which would have required regular and significant care from others to survive. It implies that in the Árpádian Age community of Győrszentiván-Révhegyi tag, there was a willingness to care for people in need. Detailed archaeological case studies can give us a unique insight into the natural history and different presentations of OATB. Furthermore, they can provide paleopathologists with a stronger basis for diagnosing TB and consequently, with a more sensitive means of assessing TB frequency in past populations.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g010
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g011
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g012
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.g013
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0249939.r004
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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