7.1.10
Corticosteroids and tuberculosis
National TB Management Guidelines, 2018 Edition. Chapter 7, Tuberculosis Management and Monitoring.
Clinical description
- Corticosteroids in conjunction with anti-TB drugs reduce the risk of death in TBM and
TB pericarditis. Patients with TBM or TB pericarditis should be given corticosteroids for an initial period of 21 days followed by tapering off by 25% per week over four weeks.
- Either prednisolone or dexamethasone may be used.
Table 7.1-6: Corticosteroid dosing in TBM Dosage for initial Initial phase Patient category Corticosteroid phase duration 2 mg/kg Children Prednisolone 21 days (max 40 mg)
Adults Dexamethasone 12 mg per day 21 days Prednisolone 60 mg per day 21 Table 7.1-7: Prednisolone dosing in TB pericarditis Days Days 57- Days Patient Category Days 0–28 29-56 70 71-77 Adults 60 mg 30 mg 15 mg 5 mg 0.25 mg/ Children 1 mg/kg 0.5 mg/kg 0.1 mg/kg kg
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