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Way back in 1983 an outbreak of Pyogenic Meningitis filled our
Pediatric wards[Calcutta.National.Medical.College.-Calcutta] with a glut
of cases,two Pediatric units used the standard regimen of antibiotics, the
third, ours, contrary to the then convential wisdom of adding
corticosteroids did just that i.e. added Dexamethasone, and not only was
there a dramatic improvement in the survivial rate but the incidence of
post menigococcal optic nerve atrophy with subsequent blindness,
negligible.
I have been since then using Dexamethasone in virtually all the cases of
pyogenic meningitis with gratifying results
i entirely agree with author that there is a place for use of
dexamethasone. not only it reduces inflammation and cerebral edema,
thereby facilitating penetration of antibiotics,and functional
improvement, but it also prevents adhesions and fibrosis all of which
could lead to basal nerve entrapment and hyrocephaulus.i also think that
this practise of prescribibg dexamethasone is pretty old about 2-3 decades
old.
Dexamethsone-Improving outcome and preventing complications post meningitis
Way back in 1983 an outbreak of Pyogenic Meningitis filled our
Pediatric wards[Calcutta.National.Medical.College.-Calcutta] with a glut
of cases,two Pediatric units used the standard regimen of antibiotics, the
third, ours, contrary to the then convential wisdom of adding
corticosteroids did just that i.e. added Dexamethasone, and not only was
there a dramatic improvement in the survivial rate but the incidence of
post menigococcal optic nerve atrophy with subsequent blindness,
negligible.
I have been since then using Dexamethasone in virtually all the cases of
pyogenic meningitis with gratifying results
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests