C-Reactive Protein, or CRP, is a substance made by the liver that shows up in the blood when there is inflammation in the body. Inflammation is how our body responds to things like infections, injuries, or diseases.
When doctors want to check if someone has inflammation, they can measure the level of CRP in a blood sample. If the CRP level is high, it means there is inflammation somewhere, but it doesn't tell exactly what is causing it. It can be a sign of many things, such as an infection, an autoimmune disease, or even chronic conditions like arthritis.
So, in simple terms, CRP is a marker that helps doctors understand if there is something going on in the body that needs attention.