Molecular diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis: history and present

Childhood tuberculosis remains a serious public health threat which draws more and more attention.The unspecific symptoms or signs and the paucibacillary nature of childhood tuberculosis make it hard to diagnose which delays appropriate treatment and increases disease burden and mortality.Molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and DNA line probe based on mycobacterium tuberculosis specific nucleotide sequence will make a quick and reliable diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis. Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Child; Molecular diagnosis