ABSTRACT 421

Abstract

Background and aims: Mycoplasmal infection is an important aetiology in children pneumonia. Aims: To measure PCT and CRP in children with MPP and evaluate its clinical significance. Methods: The 74 cases MPP patients were diagnosed in PICU of our hospital from 2005 to 2009, including 51 cases in acute stage and 23 cases in recovery stage. The specimen was drawn from peripheral vein within 24hr after admission, meanwhile the specimen from 13 children in normal as control.Fluorescent immunoassay was employed to measure PCT. Results: PCT levels of acute and recovery stage were 0.3(0.12–0.50) ng/ml and 0.18(0.13–0.23) ng/ml, respectively; it was 0.1(0.13–0.16) ng/ml in control group. There were a significant difference in PCT between acute and recovery stage group (P<0.01), and no difference between recovery stage and the normal control group (P>0.05). CRP levels of acute stage and recovery stage were 12.2 (1–25.5) mg/L and 8 (2–8) mg/L, respectively.There were a significant difference in CRP between acute stage nd recovery stage group (P<0.01), and there were no difference between recovery stage and the normal control group.(P>0.05). Conclusions: PCT and CRP elevated mildly in MPP during actue stage, then returned to normal level in recovery stage. PCT detection was beneficial for differential diagnosis between bacterial and non-bacterial infection. However, PCT detection could not distinguish viral from mycoplasmal infection. In addition to clinical features, aetiology study, including viral examination and mycoplasma antibody detection should be employed in differential diagnosis of MPP.