title: C-reactive protein in childhood meningitides.
abstract: Utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) latex agglutination test in meningitis was evaluated. Serum CRP test was positive in 100% cases of meningitic groups and 53% cases of "no meningitis (NM)" group. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CRP test was positive in 100% cases of pyogenic meningitis, whereas it was negative in 95% cases of tuberculous meningitis and 100% cases of NM group. CSF CRP test showed 100% sensitivity and negative predictive values, 95-100% specificity and 94-100% positive predictive values for various inter-group differentiations. This study concluded that CSF CRP positive cases should be considered as pyogenic meningitis unless proved otherwise. Routine use of this simple, reliable and inexpensive test is recommended for rapid diagnosis and differential diagnosis f meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, J.A. Group of Hospitals and Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Pemde
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harish
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Thawrani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Belapurkar
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein