Study Of Procalcitonin As A Diagnostic Marker Of Acute Infection In Infants And Children

Abstract

This study evaluates the diagnostic usefulness of serum procalcitonin (PCT) cone in severely infected infants and children and its comparison with other markers as total leukocyte count (TLC) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Patients are divided into 4 groups (A)12 patients with sepsis, (B)13 patients with localized bacterial infection, (C)13 patients with viral infection, (D)20 healthy infants and children as control group. Results showed elevation of serum procalcitonin to high levels in sepsis and in localized bacterial infection, and were significantly declined in viral infections and control group. Procalcitonin cones have better diagnostic value with higher sensitivities and specificities in identifYing infection, differentiating bacterial from viral infections and for the prediction of sepsis than TLC and serum CRP.