title: Cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of meningitis in children.
abstract: The mortality rate of bacterial meningitis in infants and children is still high (40-50%). Such a mortality rate can be reduced by establishing a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Until now the diagnosis of meningitis is still an important clinical problem. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein had been done in 44 clinical meningitis patients in the Paediatrics Department, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital qualitatively by means of latex agglutination slide test. Cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein was positive in 90% (18/20) of bacterial meningitis patients compared to 8.3% (2/24) of non bacterial meningitis patients. The sensitivity and specificity of cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein were 90% and 91.7% respectively and these values were more sensitive and specific than those of white cell count, absolute polymorphonuclear, glucose and protein levels and the cerebrospinal fluid smear (50-80% and 80-91% respectively) which had been performed in the diagnosis of meningitis. It can be concluded that the examination of cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein can be used as a diagnostic tool of bacterial meningitis.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Soetiono
authors: Sunartini
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Machfudz
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Setyawati
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein