Steroids for Children with Community-Acquired Pneumonia?

Hospital length of stay was shorter in children who received corticosteroids — but only in those with wheezing.

Some data suggest that corticosteroids have an ameliorative effect in adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), presumably because these agents downregulate inflammatory cytokines, resulting in quicker resolution of disease. In a recent retrospective cohort study, researchers examined whether corticosteroids might benefit children with CAP. They analyzed data for 20,703 CAP patients aged 1 to 18 years who were discharged from any of 38 hospitals in 2006 or 2007.

A total of 7234 (35%) patients received adjunctive corticosteroids, but the proportion varied greatly among centers (1%–51%). Across all age groups, length of stay (LOS) was shorter for children who received steroids than for those who did not. The median LOS was 3 days for all…

Reviewing Author

Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInfectious Diseases in Children

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesMember Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease

Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInfectious Diseases in Children

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesMember Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease

Steroids for Children with Community-Acquired Pneumonia?

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Reviewing Author