Comparison between Total Lymphocyte Count and C-Reactive Protein in Neonate with Meningitis in Neonatal Unit at Benghazi Children Hospital- Libya

Meningitis in newborn continue to be major cause of morbidity and mortality, particular in premature infant. Incidence is 0.2 to 0.4\1000 live birth and higher in premature infant. The sign and symptoms of meningitis are not specific and diagnosis depends on laboratory investigation. Objective: To find the value of CRP in camper with WBC count in cases proved meningitis based on lumber puncture finding. Design: Retrospective study, cross section study. Setting: The neonatal intensive care unit at children hospital Benghazi. Patient and Methods: 50 newborn infant with proved meningitis based on lumber puncture result (exclude all neonate with traumatic sample) treated in unit in period from January 2020 to November 2021 were included in this study. Epidemiological data and investigation were obtained from the newborn medical chart. TLC count 20000/cubic mm were consider abnormal. CRP >10 consider high Results: The total number of eligible newborn was 50 (28 males and 22 females) the mean of their age was 14.74 days. All diagnosed to have meningitis based on Lumber Puncture result. The TLC range from 3900 to 37000/cu.mm and the mean was 15150/cu.mm. 1 neonate out of 50(2%) had TLC>5000/cu.mm. and 10 neonate (20%) had TLC >20000/cu.mm. While the remaining 39 (78%) normal range. CRP range from 2.5 mg/L to as high as 285 mg/L. 33 neonate out of 50 (66%) were >10mg/L Seventeen out of 50 newborns (34%) CRP were <10mg/L. Conclusions: Compering with TLC, CRP is more reliable indicator for infection with meningitis and sepsis in neonate.