Abstract:

Tuberculosis is a global health threat. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the main form of tuberculosis, and sputum is the preferred diagnostic specimen. The bacteriological or molecular biological tests for sputum have become the gold standard, however, the difficulty of diagnosis in sputum-free patients is increasing. Although bronchial lavage fluid and gastric fluid can be used in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, there are difficulties and inconveniences in the collection process. Tongue swab, as a simple and rapid specimen with low biosafety risk, may be an ideal replacement type of sputum specimen or a new means to assist in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. In this paper, the author emphasizes the importance of the diagnosis of patients with sputum-free pulmonary tuberculosis, and looks forward to the application of tongue swab in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary, Sputum, Tongue swab, Diagnosis