RESUMEN
Objective To discuss the expression level of serum procalcitonin( PCT) and clinical val-ue in acute viral diarrhea patients. Methods A total of 186 patients with acute viral diarrhea treated in our hospital from September 2013 to September 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred and seven were male and 79 were female,of which 171 cases were infected by rotavirus and 15 cases infected by norovirus. The average age was ( 1. 29 ± 0. 89 ) years old. All patients′ blood and stool cultures were negative. The patients were divided into three groups according to the degree of dehydration and whether complicated with multiple organ dysfunction or not:severe group( complicated with severe dehydration,shock or multiple organ dysfunction,n=33),mild-moderate dehydration group(n=68) and no dehydration group(n=85). Thirty-five healthy children with the same age were enrolled as the control group. Serum PCT levels,high sensitivity CRP(hs CRP) and blood routine were detected. Results The serum PCT levels increased in 73 patients with acute viral diarrhea,8 cases>100 ng/ml,21 cases 5 to 100 ng/ml and 44 cases 0. 5 to 5. 0 ng/ml. PCT( ng/ml)[0. 36(0. 14,1. 67),hsCRP(mg/L)[3. 50(0. 70,14. 83)] and WBC( × 109/L)[9. 06(6. 79,12. 50)] levels increased in the diarrhea patients compared with those in the healthy group[0. 09(0. 05,0. 13);1. 00 (0.40,2.50);6.90(5.90,8.20)](all P 0. 05 ) . Conclusion PCT can increase in pediatric patients with acute viral diarrhea,especially in those with severe dehydration,shock and organ dysfunction. Continued high levels of PCT indicates critical condition and has poor prognosis. PCT can be used as a good indicator to evaluate the severity of disease and the prognosis.