Could a common steroid help kids with severe eye infections?
NCT ID NCT07345819
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This pilot study tests whether giving dexamethasone (a steroid) to children hospitalized with orbital cellulitis (a serious eye infection) is worth studying further. Thirty children will receive either dexamethasone or a placebo by IV. The main goal is to see if a larger trial is feasible, not to prove the drug works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Dexamethasone (a steroid anti-inflammatory drug)
- What this could lead to
- If this pilot succeeds, it could pave the way for a larger trial to see if dexamethasone speeds recovery from orbital cellulitis in children.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study (30 participants) that only tests feasibility, not effectiveness. It may not show any clear benefit, and steroids can have side effects like increased infection risk.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Apr 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
2 months to 17 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 2.00 months -17.99 years (prior to 18th birthday) 2. Confirmed or suspected diagnosis of orbital cellulitis as determined by the attending physician, medical team, and/or delegate's clinical judgement, based on one or more features of orbital cellulitis (i.e., ophthalmoplegia, pain and/or limitation with extraocular movements, chemosis, blurred vision, eye swollen shut, and/or proptosis). 3. Scheduled to be admitted or admitted to hospital for less than 36 hours. 4. Informed consent provided in accordance with institutional policies Exclusion Criteria: 1. Transferred directly from outside hospital inpatient setting to a participating hospital site's inpatient setting with over 36 hours having passed since admission to outside hospital. If within 36 hours, patient is eligible. 2. Treatment with IV or PO systemic corticosteroids within 1 week of presentation 3. Recent hospital admission for orbital cellulitis within 1 week of presentation 4. Current systemic fungal infection 5. Contraindication for dexamethasone or components of dexamethasone IV formulation 6. Clinically relevant varicella exposure in the previous 21 days 7. Previous enrollment in this study 8. No telephone/mobile/email 9. Poor mastery of English, or medical interpreter not available for languages other than English
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Orbital cellulitis are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Stollery Children's Hospital
Edmonton, T6G 2B7, Canada
-
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.