Sinusitis and bacterial pharyngitis (sore throat) |
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Haemophilus influenzae is one of the most common
causes of acute maxillary sinusitis. Serum CRP can in these cases rise to approx.
20 mg/l. Higher CRP values (>40 mg/l) associated with acute maxillary sinusitis
should alert the physician to the possibility of causation by Streptococcus
pyogenes or Streptococcus pneumoniae, since if left untreated, such
cases may progress to sinus empyema.
Elevated CRP values seem to be a better criterion for antibiotic treatment
than is solely clinical examination.
Bacterial pharyngitis (sore throat)
The measurement of CRP in a primary care setting can improve diagnostic accuracy in
infections of the throat. It can increase the proportion of patients diagnosed correctly
and treated adequately as compared with purely clinical diagnoses. Unnecessary and
expensive use of antibiotics, which also supports the development of resistant bacterial
strains, can thus be reduced.
A CRP level of approx. 35 mg/l could be a useful cut-off point for differentiating between
bacterial and nonbacterial pharyngitis.
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