C-reactive protein and radiographic findings of lower respiratory tract infection in infants.
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Published version
Date
2017-04-28
Authors
Twomey, Maria
Fleming, Hannah
Moloney, Fiachra
Murphy, Kevin P.
Crush, Lee
O'Neill, Siobhán B.
Flanagan, Oisin
Bogue, Conor O.
O'Connor, Owen J.
Maher, Michael M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Baishideng Publishing Group
Published Version
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) and radiological evidence of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants. METHODS: All patients aged less than 4 years who presented with suspected lower respiratory tract infection, who received a peri-presentation chest radiograph and CRP blood measurement over an 18-mo period were included in the study. Age, gender, source of referral, CRP, white cell count, neutrophil count along with the patients’ symptoms and radiologist’s report were recorded. RESULTS: Three hundred and eleven patients met the inclusion criteria. Abnormal chest radiographs were more common in patients with elevated CRP levels (P < 0.01). Radiologic signs of LRTI were identified in 73.7% of chest radiographs when a patient had a CRP level between 50-99 mg/L. CRP levels were a better predictor of positive chest radiograph findings for those aged greater than I year compared to those 1 year or less. CONCLUSION: CRP may be used in patients with suspected LRTI diagnosis to select those who are likely to have positive findings on chest radiograph, thus reducing unnecessary chest radiographs. Core tip: Abnormal chest radiograph findings are significantly more common in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Young children are most likely to have abnormal chest radiograph findings if they have all three of the following; a CRP level of 50-99 mg/L, respiratory symptoms and if they are aged greater than 1 year.
Description
Keywords
Chest radiograph , C-reactive protein , Chest infection , Respiratory infection , Pediatric
Citation
Twomey, M., Fleming, H., Moloney, F., Murphy, K. P., Crush, L., O’Neill, S. B., Flanagan, O., James, K., Bogue, C., O’Connor, O. J. and Maher, M. M. (2017) ‘C-reactive protein and radiographic findings of lower respiratory tract infection in infants’, World Journal of Radiology: WJR, 9(4) pp. 206-211. doi:10.4329/wjr.v9.i4.206