Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis in children: 2- versus 4-day regimen. The Journal of infectious diseases. [J Infect Dis] Journal article

Title	Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis in children: 2- versus 4-day regimen.
Author(s)	Syrogiannopoulos GA, Lourida AN, Theodoridou MC, Pappas IG, Babilis GC, Economidis JJ, Zoumboulakis DJ, Beratis NG, Matsaniotis NS
Institution	Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras, Medical School, Greece.
Source	J Infect Dis 1994 Apr; 169(4):853-8.
MeSH	Adolescent Anti-Bacterial Agents Cerebrospinal Fluid Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins Child Child, Preschool Dexamethasone Drug Administration Schedule Drug Therapy, Combination Female Follow-Up Studies Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Glucose Hearing Loss Humans Infant Leukocyte Count Male Meningitis, Haemophilus Meningitis, Meningococcal Meningitis, Pneumococcal Nervous System Diseases Prospective Studies Treatment Outcome
Abstract	Four-day dexamethasone therapy has been used to treat bacterial meningitis. This prospective, randomized study compared the effect of a 2-day versus a 4-day regimen. Children (n = 118, ages 2.5 months to 15 years) were evaluated; 50% of the cases were due to Neisseria meningitidis and 40% to Haemophilus influenzae type b. Patients were treated intravenously (iv) mainly with conventional antimicrobial therapy and were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone, 0.15 mg/kg iv every 6 h for 2 or 4 days. The clinical response was similar for both dexamethasone regimens. The meningococcal meningitis patients survived without neurologic or audiologic sequelae. On long-term follow-up, neurologic sequelae or moderate or more severe unilateral or bilateral hearing impairment (or both) were found in 1.8% and 3.8% of patients treated with dexamethasone for 2 and 4 days, respectively. The 2-day regimen appears appropriate for the treatment of H. influenzae and meningococcal meningitis.
Language	eng
Pub Type(s)	Clinical Trial Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial
PubMed ID	8133101

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