Role of steroids for salvation of lives of those who have brain injuries

The French have conducted some studies linked with pneumonia and steroids. According to the results of their studies, those who experience brain injuries may avoid complications linked with pneumonia, if they are treated with the steroid hydrocortisone. These latest researches have displayed some benefits of steroids for medical needs.
Pneumonia which is caused by traumatic brain injury is a serious condition. Unluckily, it occurs frequently. The Journal of the American Medical Association has noted that the percentage of pneumonia which occurs because of traumas is 40-60 %. It is more spread among people who have brain injuries.
Early post-traumatic pneumonia requires serious medical care and hospitalization. The risk of death is increased. Undoubtedly, prevention of this condition is clinical as well as economic issue.
Dr. Antoine Roquilly of the University of Nantes in France has confirmed that experimental and clinical data have manifested that intake of corticosteroids may decrease the appearing as well as severity of pneumonia.
A research related to this disease was conducted 3 years from 2006 to 2009. 150 persons that had different types of serious brain injuries were cured with the steroid hydrocortisone. Other individuals with this condition were treated just with sugar pills. More than half of patients that were given sugar pills started to suffer from pneumonia over the month. As for those who were cured with hydrocortisone, the results were better. Less than 36 % of them got pneumonia during the same period of time. So, they didn’t need to be ventilated mechanically. Furthermore, they prevented respiratory problems which troubled the patients who were cured with sugar pills.
Dr. Lisandro Irizarry of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City has noted that the study is interesting but it requires further researches in order to be claimed a part of usual therapy.
 Actually, any individual that has suffered from a brain injury may confront the problem, when he/she doesn’t have capacity to engage in normal oral hygiene and routine expectorating of mucus. It can result in great amounts of bacteria. It enhances the risk linked with pneumonia. So, when a body experiences such stress, as a trauma, certain hormones, including hydrocortisone, should assist in healing. But this process can be blocked by trauma. That’s why such person needs an external supplement of steroids for a short period of time to increase healing responses of the body.
However these researches have proven effectiveness of the steroid hydrocortisone for patients with brain injuries, some more studies have to be conducted. It manifests that steroids have ability to save lives of people in some situations.