C-reactive protein as an indicator of complications in bacterial meningitis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) estimation in the follow-up of bacterial meningitis (BM). DESIGN Longitudinal follow-up. SETTING Urban hospital. METHODS Sequential serum CRP estimation was done in 50 healthy children and in 100 children with BM. Serial serum CRP value was correlated with the clinical picture in BM. RESULTS Serial serum CRP in 14 patients with complicated BM was significantly different than the 72 uncomplicated BM cases. CONCLUSIONS Serial determination of serum CRP may be a cheap, simple and reliable prognostic indicator in BM.