Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic respiratory infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can occur in any part of the body, with the most common occurrence in the lungs. It is transmitted through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or spit.

Tuberculosis can manifest as either latent TB infection, which often presents with no symptoms, or active TB disease, characterized by symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pain, fatigue, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. Latent TB infection is typically symptomless and non-contagious, but those with active TB can transmit the disease to others.

Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for individuals with active TB to prevent the spread of the disease and promote recovery. TB symptoms can be subtle and are sometimes mistaken for other respiratory illnesses, highlighting the importance of seeking diagnostic tests when such symptoms arise, especially if there is a known risk of TB exposure.

According to WHO, rapid molecular diagnostic tests are recommended as the initial diagnostic test for individuals with TB symptoms. Pluslife’s Next-Generation Molecular POCT Solution enables rapid TB molecular diagnostic tests as accurate as lab PCR, with the innovative tongue swab making the sampling process much easier, especially for children.

Once someone is diagnosed with TB, as long as they stick to early treatment, consistently take their medication over the long term, and attend regular follow-up appointments throughout the entire treatment process, the majority of patients can be successfully cured. After being cured, they are no longer contagious.

To prevent and control TB, it is essential to manage the sources of infection, take rapid molecular diagnostic tests early, provide standardized treatment, and interrupt the transmission pathway. Those people in close contact with TB patients are advised to undergo screening at healthcare facilities to promptly rule out tuberculosis infection.