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.