Predictive and discriminating values of C reagent protein and lactates in children with Meningitis.

Abstract

A descriptive, transversal, exploratory study was carried out in children with meningitis. The sample was chosen among the patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the Pediatric Hospital “Juan Manuel Marquez” in Havana City and among those who attended the Emergency Unit of the Matanzas Pediatric Hospital in the period between March and August 2000. To quantify the C reagent protein in biological fluids we used the diagnostic kit supplied by Dako (USA). To determine the lactate levels in biological fluids we used the diagnostic kit supplied by Centis (Cuba). When bacterial and aseptic meningitis were compared, our work showed significant differences of lactate concentrations in cephalorachideal liquids, being higher in the first one. A positive relevant association was also found between the lactate concentration and the number of cells in the cephalorachideal liquids. The study we carried out shows significantly higher concentrations of C reagent protein in serum in both kinds of meningitis. The results of this investigation corroborate that hospital staying in patients with bacterial meningitis is longer than in patients with aseptic meningitis. This fact is related with the inflammation level in the Central Nervous System and the associated damage of the tissues.