Boston (ChatterShmatter) – A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which shows the lack of an impact of steroids on children. Typically steroids are given to help the patient battle infections or trouble breathing such as coughing or wheezing.
The study was led by Dr. Jonathan Grigg of Queen Mary University in London. The focus of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the steroid prednisone is in children aged 10 months to 5 years.
The study reviewed the cases of almost 700 children, and the result was the prednisone did not shorten the length of the hospital stay as compared to those given a placebo.
In fact the researchers determined the risks of giving a steroid to a child may even outweigh the benefits. It was stated in the report that viral infections in children should not be treated with steroids.
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