Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late?
A multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted in children with bacterial meningitis using dexamethasone or placebo for four days within 24 h of starting antibiotics. Primary outcomes were hearing loss and neurological abnormalities at 12 months after meningitis. The dexamethasone (n=50) an...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
1994-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1994/257198 |
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| _version_ | 1850232208541876224 |
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| author | Susan M King Barbara Law Joanne M Langley Helen Heurter Diane Bremner Elaine E Wang Ronald Gold |
| author_facet | Susan M King Barbara Law Joanne M Langley Helen Heurter Diane Bremner Elaine E Wang Ronald Gold |
| author_sort | Susan M King |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted in children with bacterial meningitis using dexamethasone or placebo for four days within 24 h of starting antibiotics. Primary outcomes were hearing loss and neurological abnormalities at 12 months after meningitis. The dexamethasone (n=50) and placebo (n=51) groups were similar in age, severity of illness and etiological agent. Hearing loss occurred in 10% and 11% of the dexamethasone and placebo groups and neurological deficits occurred in 20% and 18% of patients, respectively. Duodenal perforation occurred in one dexamethasone-treated child. In conclusion, there was no significant benefit in those receiving dexamethasone. The lack of benefit may have been due to the delay in administration of dexamethasone (median delay of 11 h after antibiotics). Therefore, if dexamethasone is used for meningitis it should be given immediately with the antibiotic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09f42a2255fb4c06bd6ea80d05710edb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1180-2332 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 1994-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-09f42a2255fb4c06bd6ea80d05710edb2025-08-20T02:03:16ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases1180-23321994-01-015521021510.1155/1994/257198Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late?Susan M King0Barbara Law1Joanne M Langley2Helen Heurter3Diane Bremner4Elaine E Wang5Ronald Gold6Division of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Disease, Departments of Pediatrics and Audiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaA multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted in children with bacterial meningitis using dexamethasone or placebo for four days within 24 h of starting antibiotics. Primary outcomes were hearing loss and neurological abnormalities at 12 months after meningitis. The dexamethasone (n=50) and placebo (n=51) groups were similar in age, severity of illness and etiological agent. Hearing loss occurred in 10% and 11% of the dexamethasone and placebo groups and neurological deficits occurred in 20% and 18% of patients, respectively. Duodenal perforation occurred in one dexamethasone-treated child. In conclusion, there was no significant benefit in those receiving dexamethasone. The lack of benefit may have been due to the delay in administration of dexamethasone (median delay of 11 h after antibiotics). Therefore, if dexamethasone is used for meningitis it should be given immediately with the antibiotic.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1994/257198 |
| spellingShingle | Susan M King Barbara Law Joanne M Langley Helen Heurter Diane Bremner Elaine E Wang Ronald Gold Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late? Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| title | Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late? |
| title_full | Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late? |
| title_fullStr | Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late? |
| title_short | Dexamethasone Therapy for Bacterial Meningitis: Better Never Than Late? |
| title_sort | dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis better never than late |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1994/257198 |
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