Role of procalcitonin in diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia in Children

BMC Pediatrics

Table 2 Association between serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations and pneumonia as per CXR pathologyand existing WHO classification in 370 children in whom PCT levels are available

Any abnormality on chest X-ray
	Abnormality present on CXR	No abnormality on CXR	Total
PCT + ve	62 (29.7)	16 (12.5)	78
PCT –ve	147 (70.3)	112 (87.5)	259
Total	209 (100)	128 (100)	N = 337
Total	209 (100)	128 (100)	P < 0.001
Consolidation on chest X-ray
	Consolidation present	Consolidation absent	Total
PCT + ve	20 (34.5)	58 (20.8)	78
PCT –ve	38 (65.5)	221 (79.2)	259
Total	58 (100)	279 (100)	N = 337
Total	58 (100)	279 (100)	P = 0.02
Pneumonia as per WHO criteria
	WHO pneumonia	No pneumonia	Total
PCT + ve	73 (23.4)	10 (17.2)	83
PCT –ve	239 (76.6)	48 (82.8)	287
Total	312 (100)	58 (100)	N = 370
Total	312 (100)	58 (100)	P = 0.30

PCT + ve: Children with serum PCT concentrations > 0.5 ng/mL;CXR: Chest X-ray, only 337 CXRs were available as not all children without pneumonia underwent CXR
All values are expressed as n (%)

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