Objective:

To evaluate the association between adjunctive systemic corticosteroid use and clinical outcomes in children hospitalized with orbital cellulitis, highlighting its significance in pediatric care.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Corticosteroid use did not significantly reduce hospital length of stay (mean difference −0.43 days), but was associated with increased risks of surgical intervention (RR 2.08), PICU admission (RR 1.82), and 30-day readmission (RR 2.53), raising concerns for clinical practice.

Interpretation:

Adjunctive corticosteroids do not shorten hospitalization and may increase adverse outcomes in pediatric orbital cellulitis; caution is advised in clinical application.

Limitations:

• Most included studies were observational, leading to potential confounding and biases that may affect the results' reliability.

Conclusion:

High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of corticosteroids in the management of pediatric orbital cellulitis, particularly focusing on specific outcomes.

Sources:

• Systematic Review Registration
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