The Correlation Between Severity Community Acquired Pneumonia With Serum Procalcitonin And C-Reactive Protein In Pediatric

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) have been increasingly explored for their potential to reflect disease severity. This study aimed to determine the relationship between CAP severity and serum levels of CRP and PCT in pediatric patients treated at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar. A cross-sectional analytical design was used, involving 87 children aged 2–59 months who met the diagnostic criteria for CAP or severe CAP. Blood samples were analyzed using immunoturbidimetric assays for CRP and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays for PCT. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, weight, height, and nutritional status, did not differ significantly between the CAP and severe CAP groups (p > 0.05). Median CRP levels were significantly higher in the severe CAP group than in the CAP group (21.85 vs. 2 mg/L, p<0.0001). Similarly, median PCT levels were substantially elevated in severe CAP (0.99 vs. 0.06 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). Both biomarkers showed a strong positive correlation with disease severity. Nutritional status, however, was not significantly associated with CAP severity. These findings indicate that elevated CRP and PCT levels are strongly linked to severe CAP and may serve as valuable adjunctive indicators in clinical assessment. Nonetheless, neither biomarker should be used in isolation; clinical evaluation and supporting investigations remain essential for accurate diagnosis and management.