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Use of adjuvant corticosteroids for treatment of bacterial meningitis in children is controversial. The AAP guidelines state that in children older than 6 weeks, corticosteroids should be “considered after weighing the potential benefits and risks.” Results are conflicting from studies that have examined whether corticosteroids reduce mortality in children with bacterial meningitis. To further examine this issue, investigators analyzed data from the Pediatric Health Information System (representing 27 tertiary care children’s hospitals) for 2001 through 2006.
Of 2780 children (age, <18 years) who were discharged with a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, only 8.9% received adjuvant corticosteroids (mostly dexamethasone) during the first day o…