Use of Corticosteroids in Children Hospitalized With Community-acquired Pneumonia
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- corticosteroid
- Conditions
- Community-acquired Pneumonia
- Sponsor
- Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Length of stay
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Last Updated
- 10 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of addition of corticosteroid therapy to antibiotics in children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.
The hypothesis is that the use of corticosteroids decreases the length of stay in children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.
Detailed Description
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common problem in pediatric practice. The lower respiratory tract infections, particularly pneumonia, are a frequent cause of morbidity in children and is the leading cause of mortality in developing countries. In the last 20 years, despite several research, only a small decrease in morbidity and mortality has been achieved. Corticosteroids have an immune-modulation effect, not completely elucidated. Most likely, this effect is due to down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We postulate that adding corticosteroids to antibiotic treatment of CAP might change the immune response and thereby reduce morbidity, leading to a decrease in patients hospital length of stay.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia
- •2-18 years old
Exclusion Criteria
- •Pulmonary chronic disease (including asthma)
- •Immunodeficiency
- •Diseases wich requires corticosteroids therapy (i.e. rheumatic diseases)
- •Wheezing in current disease
- •Previous hospitalization (14 days prior to admission)
- •Pleural effusion on admission
- •Malnutrition
Arms & Interventions
Corticosteroid
Dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg/day or Methylprednisone 1 mg/kg/day
Intervention: corticosteroid
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Length of stay
Time Frame: participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, usually 5 days
Secondary Outcomes
- Length of fever(participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, usually 5 days)
- Length of oxygen use(participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, usually 5 days)