Aim:The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of procalcitonin in patients with pediatric community acquired pneumonia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Pimpri Chinchwad Corporation area over 2 years amongst children between 1 month and 12 years of age.100 patients were recruited with signs and symptoms of pneumonia according to WHO (IMNCI Guidelines). Patients with Tuberculosis, Prior antibiotic therapy, Immunodeficiency and Asthma were excluded. All children admitted to D.Y. Patil Hospital with the diagnosis of L.R.T.I. were screened for procalcitonin level on admission, WBC count, CRP, and blood culture, with x-ray chest, were also performed. Results: The median procalcitonin in the bacterial group was 9.5 and 1.04 in the non-bacterial group. This correlation of procalcitonin among bacterial and non-bacterial groups was statistically significant (p=0.00).The median respiratory rate in the bacterial group was 46 and 42 in the non-bacterial group. This correlation of respiratory among bacterial and non-bacterial groups was statistically significant. (p=0.019).The median CRP in the bacterial group was 40.50 and 4 in the non-bacterial group. CRP correlation among bacterial and non-bacterial groups was statistically significant (p=0.001). Conclusion: PCT should always be used in conjunction with and not replace clinical judgment. PCT measurement may provide an important indicator of severity for patients with CAP; also, it can assess treatment response in these patients.

Procalcitonin, C-Reactive Protein, Blood Culture, Children