Authors :
Dr. Tejaswini A.; Dr. Sachin Padman; Dr. Venugopal Reddy I.
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/57j643v4
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/mr3vm8tc
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAR1001
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Our study is a prospective observational study
done on all suspected cases of meningitis admitted to
Tertiary Care Hospital, India to study suspected
meningitis cases and assess the predictive value of CRP
and PCT in diagnosing meningitis. Indian studies are
scarce in this regard.
We included all clinically suspected cases of
paediatric meningitis in our study.Basic investigations,
including blood culture and sensitivity, CRP, and PCT,
were sentsoon after admission, and CSF analysis and
cultures were done once the child became
hemodynamically stable. Based on CSF analysis and
culture with a clinical profile, meningitis was diagnosed
and classified as bacterial and viral meningitis. In this
study,we also compared PCT and CRP in their capacity
to predict meningitis and to distinguish between bacterial
or viral meningitis. A majority of studies have shown that
PCT levels can be used in the early diagnosis of bacterial
meningitis. In our study, we found that there is no role for
PCT in predicting meningitis. CRP has a positive
correlation in predicting meningitis but it is elevated in
infectious as well as inflammatory conditions. A simple
routine complete CSF analysis is an effective, reliable and
feasible way to diagnose meningitis in children. This study
reiterates the fact that it is indeed the gold standard
diagnostic test as no other single parameter can
differentiate or diagnose meningitis.
Our study is a prospective observational study
done on all suspected cases of meningitis admitted to
Tertiary Care Hospital, India to study suspected
meningitis cases and assess the predictive value of CRP
and PCT in diagnosing meningitis. Indian studies are
scarce in this regard.
We included all clinically suspected cases of
paediatric meningitis in our study.Basic investigations,
including blood culture and sensitivity, CRP, and PCT,
were sentsoon after admission, and CSF analysis and
cultures were done once the child became
hemodynamically stable. Based on CSF analysis and
culture with a clinical profile, meningitis was diagnosed
and classified as bacterial and viral meningitis. In this
study,we also compared PCT and CRP in their capacity
to predict meningitis and to distinguish between bacterial
or viral meningitis. A majority of studies have shown that
PCT levels can be used in the early diagnosis of bacterial
meningitis. In our study, we found that there is no role for
PCT in predicting meningitis. CRP has a positive
correlation in predicting meningitis but it is elevated in
infectious as well as inflammatory conditions. A simple
routine complete CSF analysis is an effective, reliable and
feasible way to diagnose meningitis in children. This study
reiterates the fact that it is indeed the gold standard
diagnostic test as no other single parameter can
differentiate or diagnose meningitis.
