A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study to Ascertain Factors Influencing Delay in Diagnosis among Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which usually destroys the lungs. TB is spread to other people by respiratory droplets. It is estimated that one-quarter of the world's population is infected with TB, indicating that not everyone infected with the bacteria becomes ill. Infected with TB bacilli, people have a 5%-to-10% lifetime risk of developing TB. Those with a suppressed immune system, such as those living with HIV, those who are malnourished, diabetics, or who smoke, have an increased risk of developing the disease. rly detection of TB and timely treatment initiation are critical components of an efficient TB control program. Patients with undetected pulmonary TB (PTB) serve as transmission reservoirs, and a delay in diagnosis can worsen the disease, increase the risk of mortality, and increase the likelihood of TB transmission in the community, as each infectious case produces 10-15 secondary infections. e delay in diagnosis and treatment can trigger many complications; the spread of infection from one person to another (initiation of treatment can prevent the spread within 48 h of starting the drugs), the prolonged time of infectivity in the community, the chance of spread of multidrug-resistant TB,