C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver when there is inflammation. If a doctor suspects an infection or other inflammatory condition, they may order a CRP blood test. High CRP can be useful but not diagnostic on its own.
What Is C-Reactive Protein?
CRP is an inflammation marker. Inflammation can raise the levels of CRP in the blood. It is a test that doctors often use to help them check for inflammation and see how it changes over time.
A high CRP doesn’t pinpoint the source of the inflammation for doctors. It doesn’t always mean that there is an infection either.
Why Does CRP Rise In An Infection?
During an infection, the immune system is activated to fight the invading organism. The immune system responds to this and this can cause inflammation and the liver to make more CRP.
CRP may be high in several types of infections, including bacterial and viral infections. However, the level may differ between individuals and conditions, so it should not be used on its own to determine the cause of an illness.
Does A High CRP Always Indicate A Serious Infection?
No. A high CRP does not mean you have a serious infection. CRP may also be increased in noninfectious causes of inflammation, such as certain autoimmune conditions, tissue injury, or other medical problems.
Doctors look at the results of a CRP test along with your symptoms, physical exam, medical history, and other test results. One CRP result cannot determine the severity of an infection or the need for antibiotics.
What Your CRP Levels Can Tell You
CRP results should be interpreted according to the laboratory reference range and the individual’s overall health. Doctors may also check whether the CRP is rising, falling, or staying elevated over time.
Sometimes a changing CRP level can assist doctors to monitor the body’s inflammatory response. However, there isn’t a single CRP number that proves a specific infection or automatically says how severe it is.
What Other Tests Will You Need?
Depending on the symptoms and the likely cause, the doctor may recommend other tests. These may include blood cultures, urine tests, scans, or tests specific to the infection, and a complete blood count (CBC).
These tests can help give a clearer picture and may help identify the source of infection or inflammation.
When To See A Doctor
Seek medical evaluation promptly if you have a fever that doesn’t go away, worsening symptoms, unusual weakness, severe pain, trouble breathing, confusion, or any other concerning symptoms. Early evaluation can help to determine the cause and whether further evaluation or treatment is needed.
If you have a high CRP, talk to a qualified doctor about the result, rather than self-diagnosing using only the number. Infectious disease treatment in Indore provides clinical evaluation with symptoms, examination, and relevant investigations to those requiring expert evaluation of suspected or confirmed infections.
FAQs
Can a high CRP be caused by an infection?
Yes, infections can cause CRP levels to rise. This is because infections cause an inflammatory response. But CRP can also increase in non-infectious conditions.
Does a high CRP always mean a bacterial infection?
No. CRP can be elevated with bacterial and viral infections and other causes of inflammation. Alone it is not a reliable indicator of the type of infection.
Does CRP go back to normal after infection?
Yes, CRP can decrease as inflammation improves and the underlying cause is treated. Sometimes doctors will repeat the test to see how things are changing over time.
CRP is diagnostic of an infection ?
No. CRP is only one component of the evaluation. Doctors are usually required to take into consideration the symptoms, the findings on examination, the medical history and other investigations before arriving at a diagnosis.
When should I see a doctor about high CRP?
If CRP is increased, this should be discussed with a doctor. This is especially true if the patient has a persistent fever or worsening symptoms. Seek medical help immediately if you have severe difficulty breathing, confusion, severe pain, or severe weakness.
