Dexamethasone Therapy for Children With Bacterial Meningitis

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.95.1.21
• Publication Date: 2021-12-10T05:51:07Z
• Authors: Ellen R. Wald; Sheldon L. Kaplan; Edward O. Mason; Diane Sabo; Lawrence Ross Md; Moshe Arditi; Bernhard L. Wiede...; William Barson; Kwang Sik Kim; Ram Yogev; Dena Hofkosh
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

To determine whether treatment with dexamethasone and ceftriaxone for children bacterial meningitis reduces the frequency of either sensorineural hearing loss or other neurologic sequelae.This was a prospective, multicentered, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were followed 1 year.The study conducted in six children's hospitals located Pittsburgh, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Columbus, Ohio.Enrolled 173 children, 8 weeks to 12 years age, suspected meningitis; 143 evaluable. Eighty-seven percent patients at least 6 3 months, 67% year.Subjects randomized receive without (0.15 mg/kg every hours 4 days). Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) measured within 24 admission.Hearing, development, sequelae assessed time discharge year later.One hundred forty-three (69 received 74 placebo) evaluable: Haemophilus influenzae type b (83), Streptococcus pneumoniae (33), Neisseria meningitidis (24), three others. Overall, there no significant difference auditory outcome between placebo recipients. Twenty-two had bilateral moderate more severe first ABR. At follow-up, resolution impairment nearly identical each group. Nine ten who remained persistently deaf There differences developmental groups.All but one child persistent demonstrable deafness Dexamethasone did not significantly improve audiologic, neurologic, meningitis.