[Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in connection with the guideline for community-acquired pneumonia].

The decision when to make chest X-ray examination is important for early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and community-acquired pneumonia as well. And for early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, differential diagnosis with community-acquired pneumonia is important. For this reasons, guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia should include when to make chest X-ray examination, and how to exclude the possibility of pulmonary tuberculosis. For example, empiric choice of anti-microbial for apparent pneumonia should be an agent without anti-tuberculosis effect. Clinical evaluation of the effect of anti-microbial should be done carefully, because pulmonary tuberculosis can be clinically improved spontaneously. In the guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia could include the above-mentioned views on early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, the guideline could be much more helpful for the tuberculosis program.