Sniffles

In some cases a cold can be the cause of increased CRP levels. A rhinitis is caused by a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. There are two main reasons why a rhinitis usually causes at most a slight increase in the CRP value.

On the one hand, only the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract are affected by a slight inflammatory reaction, which is only a comparatively minor burden for the body and the immune system. Therefore, only little CRP is usually formed. The second reason why the CRP value often does not increase or increases only slightly in the case of a cold is that the triggers of the disease are viruses.

Viral infections generally lead to a less pronounced increase in CRP values than bacterial infections, for example. However, if a greatly increased CRP value is measured in the case of a rhinitis, this may indicate that a serious infection is also present. For example, a cause can be pneumonia caused by bacteria, which may then require treatment with an antibiotic. Do you suffer from a cold? Here it goes to: Cold – What to do?

Virus infection

Increased CRP values can often be measured even in the case of a virus infection. However, it has been proven that the CRP increases in particular during an inflammatory reaction caused by bacteria. Viral infections often cause only moderate to slight increases.

In some cases, the CRP is even normal in a viral infection. This does not mean that viral infections are generally more harmless than inflammations caused by bacteria. There is only usually a smaller increase in CRP values.

Flu

Influenza can be the cause of increased CRP levels. However, influenza is a virus-induced disease, which generally leads to a rather small increase in the CRP measured in the blood. Therefore, even in the case of a severe flu with pronounced symptoms, it is often the case that the CRP value is only slightly elevated, if at all.

If strongly increased CRP values can be measured in the presence of flu symptoms, this can be an indication that it is not the flu but possibly pneumonia caused by bacteria. In some cases, especially in elderly people with flu, a so-called bacterial superinfection can occur, which then requires treatment with an antibiotic. In addition to a worsening of the condition, an increase in the CRP value can indicate such a course.