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Group A streptococcus pharyngitis is a major cause of absenteeism from school and work. Penicillin shortens the period of communicability, and some studies in adults have demonstrated that the addition of steroids shortens the severity and duration of symptoms. In this pilot study, investigators evaluated the effectiveness of dexamethasone as adjunctive therapy in a pediatric population with streptococcal pharyngitis.
Ninety patients with streptococcal pharyngitis (age range, 4–18 years) were randomized to receive antibiotics plus one dose or three daily doses of oral dexamethasone (0.6 mg/kg; maximum, 10 mg) or placebo. The median time to improvement in activity level and general condition was 1 day for steroid recipients (both doses) and 2…