Jhuma Sankar1, P Singhi, A Bansal, P Ray, S Singhi. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of dexamethasone and oral glycerol in reducing hearing and neurological sequelae in children with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). DESIGN: Prospective double blind, placebo controlled randomized study. SETTING:Pediatric services of a tertiary care teaching and referral hospital. SUBJECTS:Children 2 months to 12 years with a diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis admitted between June 2002 to September 2003. INTERVENTION: Subjects were assigned randomly to receive dexamethasone, glycerol, dexamethasone+glycerol or placebo. Neurological and hearing impairment was assessed at discharge and after 1 month. RESULTS:58 children (48 boys, 10 girls), mean age 50.2 +/- 41.0 months, were studied. Twelve patients received dexamethasone, 13 glycerol, 20 dexamethasone + glycerol and 13 placebo. Bacterial etiology was ascertained in 24 patients: Streptococcus pneumoniae-10, H influenzae b-7, Staph. aureus-5 and others-2. Three (5.2%) children died during hospital stay and 55 survived. Seven (12%) patients had neurological sequelae (3 in glycerol, 3 in dexamethasone+glycerol, 1 in placebo group, P = 0.29), and 10 patients (17%) had hearing sequelae (2 in glycerol, 3 in dexamethasone, 2 dexamethasone + glycerol and 3 in placebo group, P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: No significant difference was seen in neurological or hearing outcome with use of either glycerol or dexamethasone in children with acute bacterial meningitis.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of dexamethasone and oral glycerol in reducing hearing and neurological sequelae in children with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). DESIGN: Prospective double blind, placebo controlled randomized study. SETTING: Pediatric services of a tertiary care teaching and referral hospital. SUBJECTS:Children 2 months to 12 years with a diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis admitted between June 2002 to September 2003. INTERVENTION: Subjects were assigned randomly to receive dexamethasone, glycerol, dexamethasone+glycerol or placebo. Neurological and hearing impairment was assessed at discharge and after 1 month. RESULTS: 58 children (48 boys, 10 girls), mean age 50.2 +/- 41.0 months, were studied. Twelve patients received dexamethasone, 13 glycerol, 20 dexamethasone + glycerol and 13 placebo. Bacterial etiology was ascertained in 24 patients: Streptococcus pneumoniae-10, H influenzae b-7, Staph. aureus-5 and others-2. Three (5.2%) children died during hospital stay and 55 survived. Seven (12%) patients had neurological sequelae (3 in glycerol, 3 in dexamethasone+glycerol, 1 in placebo group, P = 0.29), and 10 patients (17%) had hearing sequelae (2 in glycerol, 3 in dexamethasone, 2 dexamethasone + glycerol and 3 in placebo group, P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: No significant difference was seen in neurological or hearing outcome with use of either glycerol or dexamethasone in children with acute bacterial meningitis.
Authors: Katherine Mb Ajdukiewicz; Katharine E Cartwright; Matthew Scarborough; James B Mwambene; Patrick Goodson; Malcolm E Molyneux; Eduard E Zijlstra; Neil French; Christopher Jm Whitty; David G Lalloo Journal: Lancet Infect Dis Date: 2011-02-18 Impact factor: 25.071