Abstract:
Objective
To analyze the significance of procalcitonin(PCT) in the differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis in children.
Methods
Eighty children with meningitis who were treated in Zhengzhou Children's Hospital from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2015 were included in the study. It was clinically and laboratorily confirmed that there were 38 cases of bacterial meningitis and 42 cases of viral meningitis. The PCT levels were measured by colloidal gold immunochromatography. The levels of leukocytes, Creactive protein(CRP) and cerebrospinal fluid(WBC) were measured by immunoturbidimetry.
Results
In the bacterial meningitis group, the blood leukocytes were (15.4±5.4)×109/ L, serum CRP was (52.6±27.2) mg/L, and cerebrospinal fluid leukocytes were (392.1±42.8)×106/L; in viral meningitis group they were（8.4±3.6）×109/L,（20.5±10.4）mg/L and （33.2±20.9）×106/L, the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05). The serum PCT of the patients with bacterial meningitis was (13.2±5.6) μg/L and the cerebrospinal fluid PCT was (0.9±0.4) μg/L, while in viral meningitis group they were （0.7±0.3）μg/L and （0.2±0.1）μg/L, the difference being  statistically significant(P<0.05).
Conclusion
PCT, as a sensitive and specific serum marker, can be used for the identification of bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis in children. It is simple, safe and has a positive clinical significance.

Key words: Bacterial meningitis, Viral meningitis, Procalcitonin, Differential significance, Children