Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in Egyptian children with streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis.

We investigated serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis or nonstreptococcal tonsillopharyngitis and in healthy children. The median (range) for PCT was 0.374 (0.11-6.5), 0.105 (0.01-0.53) and 0.02 (0.01-0.08) ng/mL in the streptococcal, nonbacterial tonsillopharyngitis and control groups, respectively. PCT had a greater specificity than CRP for detection of bacterial tonsillopharyngitis.