QUANTITATIVE LEVELS OF C- REACTIVE PROTEIN IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN CHILDREN WITH BACTERIAL AND OTHER MENINGITIS

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein rises rapidly in the first 24-48 hours of occurrence of bacterial meningitis and in large incremental increases thereafter. METHODS: All children (121) admitted during the period of study, with clinical suspicion of meningitis were clinically, biochemically, cytologically and bacteriologically investigated to clinch the diagnosis. Quantitative level of CSF was also sent for C-reactive protein assay by latex agglutination test by immuno- turbidometric method. RESULTS: There were 121 cases of meningitis admitted in the hospital and only 10 cases were culture positive. There was significant difference of quantitative level of CSF CRP between bacterial and other than bacterial meningitis. CONCLUSION: Quantitative estimation of CRP in CSF by IMMUNOTURBIDIMETRY is a useful test to differentiate pyogenic meningitis from tubercular meningitis, viral meningoencephalitis and other non-meningitis CNS disorders. It is an easy, quick to perform, sensitive, reliable and rapid diagnostic test for timely therapeutic intervention. The detection of CRP in CSF also helps in the choice of appropriate antibiotic and the