Abstract: Objective:To analyze the changes of complete blood count(CBC), C-reactive protein(CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), and calcitonin peptide(PCT) in children with purulent meningitis.
Methods:A total of 104 children with purulent meningitis were treated in Pediatric Department of Kaifeng Children's Hospital and Neihuang County People's Hospital of Henan Province from Jan. 2015 to May 2016. The peripheral elbow blood was taken respectively on admission and 72 h after admission to determine the level of complete blood count, CRP, ESR and PCT. According to the prognosis, these children were divided into two groups: the good prognosis group(A, n=34) and the bad prognosis group(B, n=70). Compare the routine blood test, the level and changes of the inflammatory marker indexes before and after treatment between the two groups.
Results：There were no deaths; 34 children were cured, 60 improved and 10 children were discharged on the patients' request. The onset mostly occurred in spring and fall, accounting for 61%; about 64% was induced by infection. The use of antibiotics before admission accounted for 81%, and 61% were abnormal on head examination. There was no statistical difference on RBC between the two groups respectively on admission or 72 h after admission(P>0.05). At 72 h after admission, WBC, CRP and calcitonin were all lower than on admission, ESR in group A and PLT in group B were also lower, and the difference was of statistical significance(P<0.05). On admission and at 72 h after admission, RBC, PLT and LYC of Group B were lower than group A, while WBC, CRP, ESR and calcitonin were high than group A, there being statistical difference(P<0.05).At 72 h after admission, the decrease degree of LYC in group A was lower than that in group B, while the decrease degree of CRP, ESR and calcitonin was higher than that in group B, and there was statistical difference(P<0.05).
Conclusion：The pathogenesis of purulent meningitis is complicated; inflammation level, routine blood test and ESR can be the prediction indexes of prognosis; dynamic determination of relevant indexes also can predict the curative effect.

Key words: Purulent meningitis, Laboratory index, Pathogenesis, Children