Unable to find patients matching inclusion criteria

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of addition of corticosteroid therapy to antibiotics in children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.

The hypothesis is that the use of corticosteroids decreases the length of stay in children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common problem in pediatric practice. The lower respiratory tract infections, particularly pneumonia, are a frequent cause of morbidity in children and is the leading cause of mortality in developing countries.

In the last 20 years, despite several research, only a small decrease in morbidity and mortality has been achieved.

Corticosteroids have an immune-modulation effect, not completely elucidated. Most likely, this effect is due to down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

We postulate that adding corticosteroids to antibiotic treatment of CAP might change the immune response and thereby reduce morbidity, leading to a decrease in patients hospital length of stay.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia
• 2-18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pulmonary chronic disease (including asthma)
• Immunodeficiency
• Diseases wich requires corticosteroids therapy (i.e. rheumatic diseases)
• Wheezing in current disease
• Previous hospitalization (14 days prior to admission)
• Pleural effusion on admission
• Malnutrition