Effect of glucocorticoids on anti-infective efficacy and prognosis of children with bronchiolitis caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Purpose: To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid administration on anti-infective efficacy and prognosis of children diagnosed with bronchiolitis caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP). Methods: 100 children from January 2021 to June 2023 diagnosed with MP-induced bronchiolitis at the Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China were randomized into study (n = 45) and control groups (n = 55). The study group received conventional medication (azithromycin at 10 mg/kg on the first day followed by 5 mg/kg/day for 5 days) in addition to glucocorticoids, while control group received the same conventional medication without glucocorticoids. The study group was treated with prednisone (2 mg/kg/day), once a day for 5 days. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels) before and after treatment, duration of medication, disease course, clinical efficacy, and prognosis were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between both groups (p > 0.05). The study group showed significantly reduced CRP and PCT levels, shorter medication and disease duration, and a higher efficacy compared to control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Administration of glucocorticoids in addition to conventional medication in MP-induced bronchiolitis reduces levels of inflammatory markers, improves clinical symptoms, and enhances efficacy. Future studies using prospective, randomized controlled trials, larger sample sizes that cut across multicenter sites, standardized treatment protocols, and long-term follow-up will be required to more accurately confirm the safety and efficacy of glucocorticoids in the management of MP-induced bronchiolitis.