Like other respiratory infections, starting with Covid, tuberculosis spreads partly under the radar, in a “silent
”
way .
In a study published Tuesday in the journal
Lancet Infectious Diseases
, researchers from the University Medical Center (UMC) in Amsterdam evaluate the proportion of atypical or asymptomatic forms of the disease.
They conclude that
“
more than 80% of individuals testing positive did not have a persistent cough, although it is considered the main symptom of tuberculosis
”
.
More than 60% did not cough at all, but had suggestive signs such as fever, weight loss, chest pain or night sweats.
Finally, a quarter of those infected showed no symptoms.
Airborne transmission
“
Our results probably explain why, despite enormous efforts to diagnose and treat the disease, its weight in Africa and Asia is hardly declining ,
”
underlines Frank Cobelens, professor of public health at the UMC in Amsterdam…
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