Role of C-reactive Protein in Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children
Journal Title: National Journal of Laboratory Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 3
Abstract
Introduction: C-reactive Protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein synthesised in liver. Its production is mainly by Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor in response to infection or tissue inflammation. Raised CRP levels are considered as a marker of inflammation. Therefore, they can be used for screening of inflammatory conditions or other disease activity. Rapid increase in the synthesis of CRP within hours, after tissue injury or infection suggests that it contributes in host defense and that it is a part of the innate immune response. CRP plays an important role in host’s defense against infections. Aim: To measure CRP levels qualitatively and semi-quantatively in paediatric patients with Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (ARTI) and to study its association with day of illness on presentation and leucocyte count and severity of infection. Materials and Methods: This is the cross-sectional study conducted on paediatric patients of ARTIs coming to Krishna Hospital and Research Centre, Karad. Patients of either sex between the age group of one to five years were selected. Immediately after the diagnosis of ARTI, blood sample was taken to investigate CRP levels and total leucocyte count. Age and weight of the patients, day of illness, symptoms and signs were also noted. Results: Total 298 patients were included in the study. Fever, cough, rhinitis, throat pain, earache and breathlessness were the presenting symptoms. Out of these cough, fever and rhinitis were the most common symptoms of presentation. The percentage of positive CRP values was 14.4% i.e., in 43 patients this test was positive. In seven CRP positive patients leucocytosis was seen. Association of breathlessness with CRP positivity was observed. Conclusion: Breathlessness which is one of the sign of severe respiratory tract infection and respiratory distress was present in most of the CRP positive patients. Leucocytosis was not associated with raised CRP levels. Thus, raised CRP values can be associated with severity of respiratory tract infection but cannot be taken as the sign of bacterial infection and may not be considered as an indicator for antimicrobial prescription.
Authors and Affiliations
Sujata A Jadhav, Chitra C Khnawelkar, Satish V Kakade
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP528952
- DOI 10.7860/NJLM/2018/36105:2304
- Views 135
- Downloads 0
Study of Tuberculin Reactivity in Clinically Suspected Cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children & Adolescents
Introduction: India harbors highest number of tuberculosis (TB) patients globally. Few studies have focused on TB in young children who constitute a vulnerable population and lack of early diagnosis results in increased...
Disseminated Histoplasmosis: Case Report and Review
Histoplasmosis is a systemic fungal disease. It is also called as Darling’s disease, as it was first described by an American physician named Samuel Taylor Darling, in Panama. It is caused by the dimorphic fungus Histopl...
Quality Assurance Program in Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory at a Multispeciality Teaching Hospital, with Special Reference to Quality Indicators
ABSTRACT Introduction: Clinical laboratories have made considerable progress in addressing the needs of quality control, to make a difference in patient care by giving reliable results. With high degree of dependence on...
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Adults and Adolescents - Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in South India
Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare syndrome of immune dysregulation. It is characterized by hypercytokinemia and macrophage activation resulting in fever, cytopenia, splenomegaly and hyperfe...
Comparison of Bact/Alert -3D Automated Culture System and Conventional Culture Method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Extrapulmonary Specimens of the Patients Attending SKNMC and GH
Introduction: In extrapulmonary samples, very low yield of mycobacteria results in a low sensitivity of acid fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture. M.tuberculosis, the slow grower takes 4 to 6 weeks on solid based medium....