Laboratory findings
Inflammatory indicators; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were abnormal in 17 (85%), and 17 (80%) patients in severe and 25 (81%), and 24 (71%) patients in mild group.
In blood tests of cases with severe pneumonia, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils were below the normal range in 3 (14%), 6 (29%), and 2 (9%) patients, and above the normal range in 3 (15%), 0 (0%), and 5 (24%) patients, respectively. In another group with mild pneumonia elevated leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils counts were seen in 6 (18%), 1 (3%), and 7 (21%) patients, while it was below the normal range in 4 (12%), 13 (38%), and 3 (9%) patients, respectively. There were no significant differences in white blood cell (WBC) count, Red Blood Cells (RBC), hemoglobin, platelet, and neutrophil count between the two groups. Lymphocyte count was significantly lower in patients with severe disease (mean± sd 1.6± 0.9 in the severe group vs. 2.3± 2.2 in the mild group) (Table1).