Corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy in acute meningitis: a narrative review
Adjunctive corticosteroids are a valuable intervention in specific forms of meningitis, particularly bacterial and tuberculous types, where they improve survival and reduce complications. Their use must be tailored to the etiology, timing, and patient population to avoid harm. Global and regional guidelines recommend dexamethasone as part of initial empiric therapy in suspected bacterial meningitis (excluding neonates), and in all cases of TB meningitis.
Authors
- Abdul Haseeb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7407-5158)
- Naqeeb Ullah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5021-1425)
- Ramin Khan
- Zubair Ahmad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2615-1443)
- Muzzamil Samad
- Samim Noori
- Sardar Noman Qayyum
- Sundas Safdar
- Syed Haider Abbas
- Kainat Khan
Institutions
- Bacha Khan University (PK)
- Lady Reading Hospital (PK)
- Nangarhar University (AF)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Annals of Medicine and Surgery
- Published
- 2026-01-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1097/ms9.0000000000004620
- Primary Topic
- Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00