Comparison Between the Serum Level of C-Reactive Protein and Severity of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Infants

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in infants diagnosed with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (Pneumonia Severity Index I & II) versus those with severe pneumonia (Pneumonia Severity Index III–V).

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from Jan 2024 to June 2024. A total of 144 male and female infants diagnosed with pneumonia in the age range of 2 to 12 months were enrolled. The mean CRP level of the patients was determined by patient’s laboratory test reports from the patients with pneumonia. The analysis of the data was done using the SPSS version 22. Independent sample t-test was applied to compare the mean CRP level among patients with severe and non-severe pneumonia, mean an median, frequencies and percentages were calculated for the quantitative variables.

Results: 144 patients, the mean age of the patients was 7.13±2.55 months, the disease duration was 6.61±3.05 the male-to-female ratio was 1.61: 1, and 42.4 % were un vaccinated. The mean CRP level  was 11.12±6.33  mg/dl, among these the non-severe pneumonia was recorded in 88 (61.1%) patients (61.1%) with a mean CRP of 7.97±4.14mg/dl, and severe pneumonia was recorded in 56 patients (38.9%) with a mean CRP of 16.07±6.009 mg/dl. The p-value of independent sample t-test unveil significant level of mean difference of CPR values in severe versus non-severe groups (P = 0.000).

Conclusion: The mean CRP level in patients with severe pneumonia is significantly high than in patients with non-severe pneumonia. The CRP could be a potential tool for measuring the severity of the pneumonia.