Biomarkers in Differential diagnosis of Pneumonia and Bronchitis in children
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the utility of several biomarkers in differentiating bacterial community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection (CA-LRTI) from non-bacterial CA-LRTI in children and the difference of their diagnostic performance between pneumonia and bronchitis. A retrospective cohort study composed of 108 pediatric patients hospitalized for CA-LRTI was performed during 2010–2013. Based on chest X-ray and sputum samples, patients were divided into four categories: bacterial pneumonia or bronchitis, and non-bacterial (viral or unknown etiology) pneumonia or bronchitis. Peripheral white blood cell and neutrophil counts, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were compared. CRP and PCT were significantly elevated in bacterial pneumonia. PCT had the highest diagnostic performance in pneumonia. In bronchitis, neutrophil count significantly decreased in non-bacterial cases; PCT was not useful. Diagnostic performance of biomarkers may differ between pneumonia and bronchitis.
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