Role of serum procalcitonin in distinguishing atypical suppurative meningitis from viral encephalitis in children

Objective To study the role of serum procalcitonin(PCT)in distinguishing atypical suppurative meningitis from viral encephalitis in children. Methods The diagnosis and treatment of 72 children with meningitis in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to different etiologies, 36 children with atypical suppurative meningitis were selected in group A and 36 children with viral encephalitis were in group B. The levels of PCT, C reactive protein(CRP)and leukocyte count(WBC)were measured and analyzed, and their detection rates, as well as the distribution of children in different PCT concentrations were compared between the two groups. Results There were no significant differences in CRP and WBC levels as well as their detection rates between the two groups(P>0.05). PCT level and its detection rate in group A were significantly higher than that in group B(P<0.05). The results of PCT test showed that the proportion of children in group A showed a increase trend, while that in group B was decreased with the increase of PCT concentrations. Conclusion PCT is an ideal indicator to distinguish atypical suppurative meningitis from viral encephalitis in children, and has the advantages of simple operation and higher sensitivity.