Thread by @WHO

🆕 clinical trial shows that dexamethasone can boost survival of premature babies when given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in low-resource settings

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Dexamethasone is a cheap and widely available glucocorticoid used to treat many conditions, incl. rheumatic problems & severe allergies. It has also been shown to be effective in treating severe and critical #COVID19.

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Results of the trial have shown that, when administered to mothers at risk of preterm birth, dexamethasone accelerates fetal lung development, making it less likely for preterm babies to have respiratory problems at birth.

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Accurate pregnancy dating & quality care combined with dexamethasone can help preterm newborn in low-resource settings survive, results have shown. The impact is significant: for every 25 🤰 treated with dexamethasone, 1 premature baby’s life was saved

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Healthcare providers must have the means to select the 🤰 most likely to benefit from the drug & to correctly initiate the treatment at the right time – ideally 48h before giving birth to give enough time to complete steroid injections for maximal effect
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🌐 Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. Every year, an estimated 15 million babies 👶 are born too early, and 1 million die due to complications resulting from their early birth.

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