Papers to change practice: Dexamethasone for bacterial meningitis in children

Giving dexamethasone as well as an antibiotic to children with bacterial meningitis reduces the risk of neurological damage and sensorineural hearing loss.1 In a double-blind study 115 children, aged 3 months to 16 years, with suspected or confirmed bacterial meningitis were given ceftriaxone at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight daily, administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. Treatment was continued for 7 days if the infecting organism was Haemophilus influenzae …