title: Steroids as adjuvant treatment of sore throat in acute bacterial pharyngitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  I see many children suffering from sore throat and acute pharyngitis. Some adult studies describe faster pain relief when sore throat is treated with steroids. Would a single dose of a steroid, as an anti-inflammatory agent, provide accelerated pain relief for sore throat in children?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.6 mg/kg, maximum 10 mg) leads to significantly (P < .05) faster onset of pain relief and shorter suffering, especially in children with severe or exudative group A β-hemolytic streptococcus-positive acute pharyngitis.
authors.affiliation: BC Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Room K4-226, Ambulatory Care Bldg, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schams
authors.forename: Ran D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone