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CRP & Infant Ear Infections

CRP is an acronym for C-reactive protein. CRP is produced in the human body by the liver. The liver increases production of CRP whenever there is an inflammation anywhere in the body. The level of CRP is determined by a blood test. There is a question as to whether high CRP in infants is connected to ear infections.

  1. Tests

    • A simple blood test determines the level of CRP in the body.

      When blood is drawn for a CRP test it is analyzed and the level of CRP is reported. The test cannot locate the source of inflammation in the body. The test only alerts a physician to high CRP and leaves it to the physician to determine the cause. For infants with ear infections a high CRP may be related or there may be another source of the inflammation.

    Causes

    • The inner parts of the ear of a baby are not fully developed.

      Infants are prone to ear infections. They can be caused by a cold, virus or fluid blocking the eustachian tubes connecting the middle ear to the nose. Those tubes are shorter and narrower in an infant than in an adult, so it is easier for them to become blocked. According to Mayo Clinic, infants have a less developed immune system and cannot fight off infections as well as adults.

    Connection

    • According to an investigation reported in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, there is a correlation between high rates of CRP and ear infections in infants when the ear infection is the result of bacteria. When there is no bacteria present then there is no connection. An ear infection without bacteria would be caused by a virus.

    Bacteria vs. Virus

    • High levels of CRP can detect a bacteria infection that is causing an ear infection in an infant. This is important since antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Conversely, if the infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not work and should not be used.

    Conclusions

    • Testing for CRP levels in infants with ear infections can help identify which infections are caused by bacteria and which are caused by viruses. This is important because antibiotics should not be used to treat viral infections because they do not work. According to the Mayo Clinic, overuse of antibiotics can lead to development of immunity by strains of bacteria. Antibiotics should be prescribed for infants only when necessary.

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