The impact of empirical hydrocortisone therapy on clinical outcomes in dengue fever: a retrospective chart review. (20th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Mel, Sanjay; Thilakawardana, Basuru Uvindu; de Mel, Primesh; de Silva, Arjuna P; de Mel, Chandima; Chandrasena, Lal; Seneviratne, Suranjith L; Abeysuriya, Visula
• Is Part Of: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Volume 114:Number 8(2020)
• Page Start: 632
• Page End: 634
• Publication Date: 2020-06-20
• Subjects: dengue -- corticosteroids -- clinical outcomes; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9203

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The role of steroids in dengue infection (DI) remains uncertain. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients ≥18 y of age diagnosed with DI based on positivity for dengue non-structural antigen 1 or immunoglobulin M between October 2017 and November 2018. Results: Hydrocortisone was administered to 106 of 406 patients. DI with warning signs occurred in nine patients (9.5%) in the steroid cohort and eight patients (2.5%) in the non-steroid group. The incidence of severe DI, bleeding and admission duration were similar between the groups. Conclusions: Our study shows no significant benefit of empirical steroids in DI.