In a groundbreaking development, a team of scientists in India has unveiled a revolutionary smart mask designed to detect tuberculosis (TB) in children. This innovative project, spearheaded by the Foundation for Medical Research (FMR) in Worli, Mumbai, has garnered significant support from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct a comprehensive four-year study.

Dr. Ambreen Shaikh, leading the initiative at FMR, emphasized the challenges associated with diagnosing pulmonary TB in children due to the absence of typical symptoms and difficulties in obtaining accurate samples. Traditionally, invasive procedures such as gastric lavages have been necessary for confirmation, posing significant discomfort and inconvenience to young patients.

The newly developed smart mask, dubbed SMaRT-PCR (Sampling with Mask and PCR), presents a non-invasive and child-friendly alternative. Adorned with colorful cartoon figures, the mask allows children to comfortably wear it while going about their usual activities. Over a period of 10 minutes, the mask collects respiratory aerosols containing TB bacilli through a gelatine cover placed on its interior.

Preliminary trials conducted at prominent Mumbai hospitals, including Wadia Hospital, JJ Hospital, and Dr. Vikas Oswal’s center, demonstrated promising results. Dr. Nerges Mistry, Director of FMR, highlighted the mask’s impressive sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 95% in detecting TB, paving the way for further refinement and expansion of its applications.

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The ongoing FMR-ICMR study, launched last month, aims to enroll 1,200 children aged one to 14 years over the next four years. The study will meticulously evaluate the mask’s accuracy and operational feasibility in diverse settings, including urban and rural areas. Notably, the project will also extend its scope to investigate the detection of lymph node TB and drug resistance.

Dr. Kalpana Sriraman, Assistant Director at FMR, underscored the mask’s potential for active case findings and prevalence studies, hinting at its prospective deployment beyond India, including in African countries.

With its potential to revolutionize TB diagnosis in children and streamline healthcare delivery, the smart mask project stands as a beacon of innovation in the global fight against tuberculosis.

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