Role of steroids in prevention of pneumonia

The French have conducted certain researches related to pneumonia and steroids. According to the results of their researches, those who experience brain injuries can avoid complications connected with pneumonia, if they are cured with the steroid hydrocortisone. These latest studies have demonstrated certain positive effects of steroids for medical needs.
Pneumonia that is caused by traumatic brain injury is a severe condition. Unfortunately, it is widely spread. The Journal of the American Medical Association has noticed that the percentage of pneumonia which occurs because of traumas is 40-60 %. It is more spread among persons who have brain injuries.
Early post-traumatic pneumonia requires serious medical care and hospitalization. The risk of death is increased. Of course, prevention of this condition is clinical and economic issue.
Dr. Antoine Roquilly of the University of Nantes in France has stated that experimental and clinical data have demonstrated that application of corticosteroids may reduce the appearing as well as severity of pneumonia.
A study related to this disease was conducted 3 years from 2006 to 2009. 150 individuals who had different types of dangerous brain injuries were treated with the corticosteroid hydrocortisone. Other individuals with this disease were treated only with sugar pills. Over half of persons that were given sugar pills began to suffer from pneumonia over the month. As for those who were cured with the steroid hydrocortisone, the results were more encouraging. Less than 36 % of them acquired pneumonia during the same period of time. Thus, they didn’t need to be ventilated mechanically. Furthermore, they prevented respiratory problems which troubled the individuals who were cured with sugar pills.
Dr. Lisandro Irizarry of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City has noted that the study is interesting but it requires further researches in order to be claimed a part of usual therapy.
In fact, any person that has experienced a brain injury may confront the problem, when he/she doesn’t have capacity to engage in normal oral hygiene and routine expectorating of mucus. It can lead to great amounts of bacteria. It increases the risk linked with pneumonia. So, when a body experiences such stress, as a trauma, certain hormones, including hydrocortisone, should be involved in healing. But this process can be suppressed by trauma. That’s why such patient needs an external supplement of steroids for a short period of time to increase healing responses of the body.
However these studies have proven usefulness of the steroid hydrocortisone for persons with brain injuries, some more researches have to be conducted. It manifests that steroids have ability to save lives of people in certain situations.