What do systematic reviews say?

Corticosteroids vs no corticosteroid use

• Corticosteroids for the treatment of Kawasaki disease in children 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 737 participants
  Moderate

Corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Corticosteroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with placebo or no treatment (moderate certainty).

• Corticosteroids for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis) 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.04 [0.71, 1.51]
  3 studies · 715 participants
  Moderate

Corticosteroids vs placebo

• Corticosteroids for the treatment of idiopathic acute vestibular dysfunction (vestibular neuritis) 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 73 participants
  Moderate

Corticosteroids vs no corticosteroid use

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic interventions for treatment of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Summary of findings table ‐ Repeat dose(s) of prenatal corticosteroids vs single course

• Repeat doses of prenatal corticosteroids for women at risk of preterm birth for improving neonatal health outcomes 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 1477 participants
  Low

Systemic corticosteroids vs placebo

• Systemic corticosteroids for acute otitis media in children 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Topical corticosteroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects (any) compared with placebo or no treatment (low certainty).

• Topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.28 [0.03, 2.62]
  11 studies · 1091 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

• Inhaled corticosteroids for cystic fibrosis 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 295 participants
  Low

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) showed no clear difference in proportion with adverse effects of treatment compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Inhaled corticosteroids for subacute and chronic cough in adults 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.67 [0.92, 3.04]
  4 studies · 381 participants
  Moderate

Standard treatment plus systemic corticosteroids vs usual care

It is very uncertain whether standard treatment plus systemic corticosteroids changes adverse effects: exposure keratopathy compared with standard treatment alone (very low certainty).

• Corticosteroids for periorbital and orbital cellulitis 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.2 [0.4, 3.63]
  1 study · 21 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table ‐ Repeat dose(s) of prenatal corticosteroids vs single course

• Repeat doses of prenatal corticosteroids for women at risk of preterm birth for improving neonatal health outcomes 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 485 participants
  Low

Tacrolimus 0.03% vs corticosteroids

• Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  2.48 [1.96, 3.14]
  5 studies · 1883 participants
  High

Inhaled corticosteroids vs placebo

ICS showed no clear difference in adverse effects ‐ nausea/vomiting compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.32 [0.03, 3.18]
  1 study · 94 participants
  Low

IVIg vs corticosteroids

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic interventions for treatment of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Cyclosporin vs corticosteroids

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic interventions for treatment of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Tacrolimus 0.1% vs corticosteroids

Tacrolimus 0.1% probably leads to higher adverse effects: burning ‐ tacrolimus 0.1% versus hydrocortisone… compared with corticosteroids (moderate certainty).

• Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.91 [1.6, 5.28]
  1 study · 371 participants
  Moderate
• Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.59 [3.1, 6.78]
  1 study · 377 participants
  Moderate
• Topical tacrolimus for atopic dermatitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.79 [2.99, 4.81]
  1 study · 972 participants
  Moderate

Dexamethasone vs betamethasone – maternal outcomes

Dexamethasone showed no clear difference in maternal adverse effects of therapy compared with betamethasone – maternal outcomes (moderate certainty).

• Different corticosteroids and regimens for accelerating fetal lung maturation for babies at risk of preterm birth 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.63 [0.35, 1.13]
  2 studies · 1705 participants
  Moderate

Etanercept vs corticosteroids

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic interventions for treatment of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in overall adverse effects Duration of trials: 8 to 16 weeks (low certainty).

• Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.96 [0.89, 1.03]
  6 studies · 1899 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in overall adverse effects Duration of trials: 8 to 24 weeks (moderate certainty).

• Addition of anti‐leukotriene agents to inhaled corticosteroids for adults and adolescents with persistent asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.83, 1.08]
  6 studies · 1100 participants
  Moderate