Nitrocellulose membrane emerged as a platform for the home pregnancy test in the 1980s and has since remained the gold standard for lateral flow assays and commercial diagnostics. Since then, there has been a surge of interest in paperbased diagnostics research. The low cost and ubiquitous nature of paper, its biocompatibility, ability to wick fluids via capillary action, easy modification, and safe disposal by incineration are just some of the factors that have contributed to this surge. Paper is also scalable and amenable to printing and roll-to-roll manufacturing. Recent advances in paper-based technologies have allowed for multiple complex functions to be incorporated within a single device, which is a turning point in paper-based diagnostics. These advances have potential applications in various global health-related issues, and the current discussion is focused on medical diagnosis of infectious diseases. Recent advancements in molecular testing in paper have broadened the potential for nucleic acid-based diagnostics, warranting a fresh, comprehensive outlook. While recent reviews of paper-based microfluidics have covered fluid transport, fabrication methods, detection and readout strategies, and diagnostic applications, limited discussion has been devoted to applications, and therefore a comprehensive overview is required. Therefore, paper-based microfluidic diagnostic devices have shown great potential in providing low-cost, accessible, and informative testing for infectious diseases and have the potential to revolutionize global health. Microfluidic systems have been studied since the 1990s as a diagnostic device platform due to their potential to reduce reagent consumption and costs compared to conventional laboratory systems. However, despite the initial promise, the technology has not been fully realized due to a number of factors. One of the main limitations of microfluidic technologies is the size, complexity, and cost of pumps or pressure control systems required to accurately move small volumes of fluids. In addition, the fabrication techniques for conventional microfluidic devices can be intricate and expensive, making them unsuitable for mass production. As a result, many of the most impressive "first generation" microfluidic devices have yet to achieve commercial viability. In contrast, capillary flow diagnostic devices, also known as lateral flow strips, have been widely adopted in both developed and developing countries due to their reliability and low cost. However, these lateral flow tests have their limitations, such as their one-dimensional (1D) format, limited sensitivity, and non-quantitative nature. Therefore, researchers have great interest in developing new paper-based diagnostics to address these shortcomings and go beyond the traditional single-strip format.