PO-0187 Value Of Serum Procalcitonin Level In Differentiation Of Viral And Bacterial Meningitis In Children Admitted Emergency Room

Introduction Acute bacterial meningitis which is a paediatric emergency with high mortality and morbidity, must be diagnosed and treat promptly. Often diagnosis of bacterial meningitis from viral meningitis is difficult after some days. Determination of some inflammatory mediators example procalcitonin in serum and CSF were useful in differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis. The aim of this study is the finding out value for procalcitonin in meningitis. Methods This research is a case control cross sectional study in all children with clinically suspected meningitis referred to paediatric emergency room. According to the clinical finding and results of CSF analysis, our patients were classified into two groups: bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis. For all cases CSF analysis and Culture was done and serum and CSF procalcitonin measured,. Finally the results Compared Groups. Data were analysed by SPSS Software. Results There is no significant difference between two groups, in age, Sex, and symptoms. Serum and CSF procalcitonin, Leukocytosis >15000, PMN peleocytosis of CSF and also sugarand protein of CSF were significantly higher in bacterial meningitis. Serum and CSF procalcitonin levels in control group were less than 0.5 ng/ml and >2 ng/ml in bacterial meningitis and only one child (8.33%) in aseptic meningitis (Herpes meningoencephalitis) had serum procalcitonin more than 2 ng/ml same bacterial meningitis. Conclusion Serum and CSF Procalcitonin level Could be used as a useful diagnostic in meningitis with the cut of point 0.5 ng/ml and in bacterial meningitis with >2 ng/ml.