ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of serum procalcitonin(PCT) and cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase(CSFADA) detection in the diagnosis of meningitis in children.  MethodsSolidphase immune chromatography and enzymatic rate assay were used to determine the level of serum PCT and the activity of CSFADA in children with purulent meningitis (PM group, 33 cases), tubercular meningitis (TM group, 24 cases),  viral meningitis (VM group, 38 cases), and control group (children with epilepsy during the same hospitalization period) respectively.  ResultsSerum PCT of PM group were all positive, and the positive rate (100.00%) was significantly higher than those in the other groups（P＜0.001）; The positive rate of serum PCT in VM group was only 2.63%(1/38); Serum PCT were all negative in TM and control group. The levels of CSFADA in PM and TM group were significantly higher than those in VM and control group (P＜0.001); The difference of CSFADA level between TM and PM group was significant（P＜0.001）, and the positive rate of CSFADA in TM group was 83.33%(20/24), the CSFADA levels in PM group were all in normal range. ConclusionThe simultaneous detection of serum PCT and CSFADA can be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of meningitis in children.

meningitis; procalcitonin; adenosine deaminase; children