Color Coded Symptoms

Before bacteria were discovered, in the 19th century, people did not understand the true causes of infections and diseases. Illnesses were often attributed to "bad air" (miasma), divine punishment, or imbalances in bodily humors. In 1857, French scientist Louis Pasteur made groundbreaking contributions by demonstrating that microorganisms, including bacteria, were responsible for fermentation and spoilage. This led to the realization that bacteria could cause infections in humans as well. Around the same time, German physician Robert Koch developed methods to isolate and identify specific bacteria, further linking them to diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera. Their work revolutionized medicine and paved the way for modern microbiology.

The discovery of antibiotics, particularly penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, brought about a profound transformation in medicine and public health. Prior to antibiotics, infections that are now treatable were often fatal, leading to high mortality rates. With the advent of these life-saving drugs in the 1940s, the treatment of bacterial infections became much more effective, drastically reducing death rates and contributing to a significant rise in life expectancy. 

Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century and accelerated into the 19th, spurred rapid advancements in technology, transportation, and manufacturing, reshaping economies and societies. Innovations in medicine, such as the development of vaccines and antibiotics, were made possible by the industrial advancements in science and technology. 

These developments not only improved the quality of life but also led to population growth, urbanization, and the expansion of healthcare systems, helping to elevate global standards of living and extending life expectancy into the 20th century.

In the decades following the discovery of penicillin, doctors and the public hailed it as a "miracle drug" that could cure a wide range of bacterial infections and save countless lives. This revolutionary treatment sparked widespread optimism, but it also led to a dangerous overuse of antibiotics. 

Doctors, eager to hoard wealth started marketing and prescribed penicillin in 1930s. More antibiotics were developed, and used to treat other infections, sometimes unnecessarily or for viral infections, which antibiotics cannot treat. As the drugs were used more frequently, bacteria, viruses, parasites, insects, and fungi adapted, evolving resistance mechanisms to survive and multiply in the presence of these treatments. This led to the rise of "superbugs"—bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. 

The misuse and over-prescription of antibiotics became a global issue, and now, decades later, these resistant pathogens have created a dangerous and rapidly spreading army. It's estimated that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could cause over 10 million deaths annually, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide. The very drugs that once saved millions are now contributing to an escalating public health crisis, as pathogens evolve faster than new antibiotics can be developed.