Appropriate duration of steroids for brain worm infection

Five Days Versus Fourteen Days Oral Dexamethasone in Children and Adolescents (aged 2-18 years) with Parenchymal Neurocysticercosis (up to 5 lesions): An Open Labelled Clustered Randomized Superiority Trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

CTRI

Registry ID

CTRI/2021/04/032691

Enrollment

Registered

2021-04-08

Start date

Unknown

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-09-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Health Condition 1: G060- Intracranial abscess and granuloma

Interventions

Intervention1: Oral Dexamethasone for 14 days followed by 3 days tapering: Oral Dexamethsone at 0.6 mg/kg/day in four divided doses daily for 14 days followed by tapering over three days. All patients

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1.Children and adolescents aged 2-18 years 2. Parenchymal NCC, live, up to 5 in number

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1.Received antihelminthic and steroid therapy in the last 6 months 2.Raised ICP, cysticerci encephalitis 3.Extra-parenchymal NCC, intra-ocular NCC 4.Critically sick children 5.Co-existing known chronic illness - Chronic kidney disease - Chronic liver disease - Rheumatological disorders - Neurological disorders - Genetic disorder - Endocrine disorders - Chronic lung disease - On long term immunosuppression, immunodeficiency - Malignancy

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
To compare percentage resolution of cysts between both the arms post completion of therapy on CECT head.Timepoint: 6 months after completion of therapy	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
To compare breakthrough seizure rates between the 14 days Dexamethasone arm and 5 days Dexamethasone arm Timepoint: Over at least 6 months follow up post completion of treatment ;To compare markers of inflammation on MRI brainTimepoint: 2-3 weeks post completion of the therapy	—

Countries

India

Contacts

Public ContactDr Biswaroop Chakrabarty

All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

biswaroopchakrabarty@gmail.com9818260603

Outcome results

None listed

Source: CTRI (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026