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News Topical, Digital Desk : TB remains the leading cause of death from infectious diseases worldwide, but what's even more alarming is that millions of patients remain undiagnosed. A frightening statistic from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that approximately 2.7 million TB patients are overlooked in current screening programs.
Amid this serious problem, science has offered a new ray of hope—the "digital stethoscope with artificial intelligence." According to a new study, this smart technology has the potential to save lives even in remote areas where healthcare facilities are not easily accessible.
Millions of patients are left without testing.
World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that approximately 2.7 million TB patients go undiagnosed due to limitations in current screening programs. Symptoms are often unclear, or testing is expensive and not available everywhere. This prevents timely identification of patients, a problem that can now be improved with new technology.
How does this stethoscope work?
According to a report published in the journal Med, AI technology is capable of identifying subtle sounds (sound biomarkers) of disease that the human ear cannot hear. This digital stethoscope analyzes sounds coming from the lungs during coughing and breathing, which may seem normal but are actually signs of disease. This is called auscultation, and AI will now assist doctors in this process.
A great alternative to expensive machines
Until now, ultra-portable radiography and computer software have been recommended by WHO for diagnosing TB. However, these machines are expensive and difficult for pregnant women to use due to the risk of radiation exposure. Researchers believe that the AI digital stethoscope is a cheaper and safer alternative, which could be useful even in remote areas where X-ray machines are not accessible.
Successful studies in many countries including India
Researcher Madhukar Pai of McGill University in Canada and other global experts reported that the technology has demonstrated high accuracy in detecting lung and heart diseases . Studies conducted in high-TB countries such as India, Peru, South Africa, Uganda, and Vietnam have found it to be highly useful. It is yielding positive results not only in early detection of TB but also in other diseases.
Hope for the future
Experts say this technology has the potential to fill a significant gap in TB screening. While it remains to be tested on more patients in different settings to ensure its effectiveness, it's clear that the AI digital stethoscope could be a game-changer in bringing equity to healthcare and finding hidden TB patients.
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