title: C-Reactive protein levels in children with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP) is often used to distinguish bacterial from viral infections. However, the CRP level does have implications, which depend on the clinical scenario and are still under research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the distribution of CRP levels in children with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The electronic database of a tertiary pediatric medical center was searched for all inpatients with a diagnosis of primary herpetic gingivostomatitis without bacterial coinfection. Background and clinical information was collected and CRP levels were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group consisted of 66 patients aged 8 months to 7.1 years who met the study criteria. The average CRP was 7.4 mg/dl (normal 0.5 mg/dl). More than a third of the patients had a level higher than 7 mg/dl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High values of CRP are prevalent in patients with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis, similar to adenoviral infections and some bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Schneider children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.  alon.nevet@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevet
authors.forename: Havatzelet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yarden-Bilavsky
authors.forename: Shai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
authors.forename: Gilat
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Livni
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013283:Stomatitis, Herpetic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein