Can Children with Pneumonia Use Hormone Treatment?

Question

Can children with pneumonia be treated with hormone medications?

Answer

In certain situations, children with pneumonia can be treated with corticosteroids. These situations include severe respiratory distress or respiratory failure, prominent systemic toxic symptoms, infectious shock, brain edema, and a large amount of pleural effusion. In these cases, short-term use of hormones can reduce the inflammatory response, stabilize blood permeability and microcirculation, and lower intracranial pressure. However, the use of hormones must be guided by a doctor and there must be clear indications.