Value of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in early diagnosis of children severe pneumonia

Objective:To discuss the value of procalcitonin(PCT) and C-reactive protein(CRP) in early diagnosis of children severe pneumonia.Methods:87 children patients with severe pneumonia in our hospital were divided into three groups according to pathogen detection: bacterial pneumonia group,viral pneumonia group and mycoplasma pneumonia group.20 healthy children from the medical examination center of our hospital were chosen as the control group.The results of serum PCT,CRP and WBC in four groups were compared.Results:The levels of PCT,CRP and WBC in bacterial pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group.The levels of PCT and CRP in mycoplasma pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group.The levels of PCT,CRP and WBC in viral pneumonia group were close to those in healthy control group.The level of PCT in bacterial pneumonia group was significantly higher than that in other groups,the positive rate was 94.2%.The level of CRP in bacterial pneumonia group and mycoplasma pneumonia group was significantly higher than that in viral pneumonia group,the positive rates were 97.1% and 92.8% respectively.Both PCT and CRP in viral pneumonia group were not obviously increased.Conclusion:PCT and CRP in early diagnosis of severe pneumonia have higher positive rate,which can be used as early differential diagnostic indicator in severe pneumonia.Both the levels of PCT and CRP are increased in bacterial pneumonia.The level of CRP alone is increased in mycoplasma pneumonia.Neither of the levels of PCT and CRP is increased in viral pneumonia.