Which of the following statements regarding use of glucocorticoids in pharyngitis is MOST ACCURATE?
A. Steroids should never be prescribed without the addition of antibiotics, as the immune suppression they cause increases the risk of suppurative complications.
B. There are some studies showing that glucocorticoids reduce symptom duration.
C. When steroids are being considered as part of the treatment plan, parenteral formulations should be used since oral steroids have substantially less clinical effect.
D. When steroids are used, the dose must always be tapered to avoid inducing secondary adrenal insufficiency.
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Answer: B. There are some studies showing that glucocorticoids reduce symptom duration. There are no studies proving that using steroids without antibiotics increases suppurative complications of pharyngitis; glucocorticoids do not need to be administered parenterally to achieve clinical effect. Tapering of steroid dosing is not necessary when short courses are used.
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Last Updated on January 26, 2023
