C-reactive Protein as a Diagnostic Marker of Bacterial Infection in Febrile Children
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research - Year 2018, Vol 12, Issue 3
Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Evaluation of febrile infants and children without focus possess a great clinical concern. Although several biochemical indices indicate diagnosis towards bacterial agents, combining low cost and easily performed haematological parameters could reasonably predict the presence of Bacterial Infection (BI). Aim: To assess the value of C-reactive Protein (CRP) alone and in conjunction with total White Blood Cell (WBC) count and Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) in predicting bacterial infection in febrile children. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics of a tertiary care hospital among children aged 1 month to 14 years admitted with fever for >24 hours. Data were collected from 97 consecutive children in whom CRP and total blood count was advised at admission. These data were analysed to predict the presence of BI by investigating the diagnostic performance of CRP, WBC and ANC using standard statistical software Stata version 13.1. Results: BI was diagnosed in 41 children. Sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV), Diagnostic Accuracy (DA) of CRP for BI among the febrile infants were 83%, 75.0%, 71%, 86% and 78% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 61% and 98% when all the three parameters CRP, WBC and ANC were positive and were 95% and 45% when any of these parameters was positive. Conclusion: A definitive cut-off value of 1.2 mg/L for CRP is a reasonably good predictor of BI among febrile children. However, addition of other laboratory parameters (total leukocyte count and ANC may enhance clinician’s ability to discriminate bacterial from non BIs.
Authors and Affiliations
Bandya Sahoo, Bhaskar Thakur, Mukesh Kumar Jain, Reshmi Mishra
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP514179
- DOI 10.7860/JCDR/2018/34233.11259
- Views 63
- Downloads 0
Role of HCV Infection in Psoriasis: A Clinical and Immunohistochemical Study
ABSTRACT Introduction: Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disorder in which different infections play an important role in its pathogenesis. It was proposed that Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is involved in psoriasis path...
Intramuscular Capillary Haemangioma of the Temporalis Muscle: A Rare Case with A Review of the Literature
An Intramuscular Haemangioma (IMH) is a benign mesenchymal tumour of the endothelial cells that accounts for less than 1% of all haemangiomas. Here we report the case of a capillary type intramuscular haemangioma in a fi...
Outcome of Drug Resistant Severe Atrial Tachycardia During Pregnancy treated with Catheter Ablation
ABSTRACT A 24-year-old primigravid woman at 28 weeks of gestation was admitted to the hospital because of drug-refractory atrial tachycardia and heart failure. The arrhythmia did not respond to drug therapy and electric...
Efficacy of Foley’s Catheter and the Effect of Histopathology, Age and Endometrial Thickness Relative to the Measured Outcomes in Menorrhagia
Introduction: Menorrhagia adversely affects the quality of life. Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment for menorrhagia however, a number of conservative alternatives are available. Aim: Hysterectomy is the definitive...
A Rare Surprising Cause of Acute Severe Pancreatitis
A 39-year-old woman was admitted with clinical, biochemical and imaging features suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Conservative and guideline based management failed to improve her condition. Repeate the imaging, utilizi...