Low-Dose Corticosteroids Are A Good Option for Sore Throat

A single low dose of corticosteroids effectively provides pain relief in patients with sore throat, and does not raise risk of serious adverse effects, according to the results of a recent study.

Although sore throat is often treated with acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, previous research has indicated that a short course of low-to-moderate dose corticosteroids could also be an effective treatment option. For this reason, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving the addition of corticosteroids to standard care for patients aged 5 years or older in emergency departments and primary care settings with clinical signs of acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, or the clinical syndrome of sore throat.
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Overall, 10 trials involving 1426 individuals were included in the analysis. Patients who were given a single low dose of corticosteroids (most commonly dexamethasone with a maximum dose of 10 mg) were twice as likely to experience pain relief at 24 hours and 1.5 times more likely to have no pain at 48 hours than those who did not.

Patients taking corticosteroids experienced pain relief a mean 4.8 hours earlier and complete pain resolution 11.1 hours earlier than those not taking corticosteroids.

“In patients with acute sore throat, there is primarily moderate to high quality evidence that one or two low doses of corticosteroids reduces the intensity and duration of pain—pain scores at 24 hours, complete resolution of pain at 24 and at 48 hours, time to onset of pain relief, and time to complete pain relief,” the researchers concluded.

“Whether corticosteroids reduce recurrence/relapse of symptoms, number of days missed from school or work, duration of bad/intolerable symptoms, or antibiotic use remains uncertain.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Sadeghirad B, Siemieniuk RAC, Brignardello-Petersen R, et al. Corticosteroids for treatment of sore throat: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials [published online September 20, 2017]. BMJ. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3887