Hydrocortisone in the management of dengue shock syndrome

A total of 98 patients with dengue shock syndrome admitted into Children's Hospital from February 1973 to February 1974 were randomly selected into 2 groups. A double blind controlled trial of the efficacy of pharmacologic doses of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate was carried out. The 2 groups were confirmed to be completely matched by age, sex and severity of the disease. Nine deaths occurred out of 48 cases in the steroid group (Case Fatality Rate 18.75%) and 22 deaths out of 50 cases in the non-steroid group (Case Fatality Rate 44%), the difference being statistically significant. No significant difference was detected in fluid requirements and other morbidity pattern.