Effectiveness of the steroid hydrocortisone in salvation of lives

The French have conducted certain researches related to pneumonia and steroids. According to the results of their studies, those who experience brain injuries may avoid complications related to pneumonia, if they are cured with the steroid hydrocortisone. These latest researches have shown several positive effects of steroids for medical needs.
Pneumonia which is caused by traumatic brain injury is a serious illness. Unluckily, it occurs frequently. The Journal of the American Medical Association has noticed that the percentage of pneumonia which appears due to traumas is 40-60 %. It is more spread among patients who have experienced brain injuries.
Early post-traumatic pneumonia requires serious medical care and hospitalization. The risk of death is enhanced. Undoubtedly, prevention of this disease is clinical and economic problem.
Dr. Antoine Roquilly of the University of Nantes in France has confirmed that experimental and clinical data have demonstrated that administration of corticosteroids can lower the occurrence as well as severity of pneumonia.
A research related to this disease was conducted 3 years from 2006 to 2009. 150 persons who experienced different types of serious brain injuries were treated with the steroid hydrocortisone. Other patients with this disease were treated just with sugar pills. More than half of individuals that were treated with 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. So, they didn’t need to be ventilated mechanically. Furthermore, they avoided respiratory problems that troubled the patients that were treated with sugar pills.
Dr. Lisandro Irizarry of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City has stated that the study is interesting but it requires further researches in order to be considered a part of standardized treatment.
 In fact, any individual that has experienced a brain injury may confront the problem, when he/she doesn’t have capacity to engage in usual oral hygiene and routine expectorating of mucus. It can result in great amounts of bacteria. It increases the risk connected with pneumonia. So, when a body has such stress, as a trauma, some hormones, including hydrocortisone, should assist in healing. But this process may be suppressed by trauma. That’s why such patient needs an external supplement of steroids for a short period of time to enhance healing responses of the body.
Although these researches have proven effectiveness of the steroid hydrocortisone for individuals with brain injuries, some more studies have to be conducted. It shows that steroids have capacity to save lives of people in certain cases.