Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is one of the most common possible causes of elevated CRP levels. The tonsils are organs of the immune system. When an inflammation is usually caused by bacteria, a chain of reactions ultimately leads to increased production and release of CRP in the liver.

The level of CRP often correlates with the severity of the inflammation. If the tonsillitis heals, the CRP level usually drops again. However, chronic or recurrent tonsillitis can also be responsible for constantly elevated CRP levels.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a cause of increased CRP levels. Slightly to moderately elevated levels can be measured in many women who are pregnant and are then considered normal. Only strongly increased or in the course of the course rising CRP values in connection with complaints such as fever or pain should be considered also in the pregnancy and if necessary further clarified. In many cases, however, an elevated CRP value during pregnancy is not usable, so that its determination is often not appropriate.

After surgery

An operation leads to a strong stress reaction of the body and thus also to an activation of the immune system. It is therefore to be expected that increased CRP values can be measured after surgery. In a normal course without complications, the value drops again after a few days.

In the first days after surgery, increased CRP values are therefore considered normal. The expected increase also depends on the extent and duration of the operation. If the CRP does not drop or even rise in the course of the operation, this can be an indication for the doctors that a complication is imminent, such as a wound healing disorder or pneumonia. However, the CRP value must always be considered in conjunction with the patient’s symptoms and possible findings such as fever or pain.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia typically leads to increased CRP levels.To diagnose pneumonia, however, the typical symptoms such as fever, newly occurring shortness of breath and coughing must be present. In addition, a new shadowing must be detected by means of an X-ray image. An elevated CRP value is only of secondary importance in the diagnosis of pneumonia.

Conversely, however, values that are not elevated make pneumonia very unlikely, so that in such a case an X-ray is often unnecessary. However, the CRP values become more important after initiation of therapy. If this does not decrease or even increases a few days after initiation of treatment with antibiotics, this indicates that the therapy is not working and that a change to another medication may be necessary.