Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid which can modulate inflammatory-mediated tissue damage associated with a wide range of infectious diseases. Dexamethasone is routinely used for treatment of tuberculous meningitis and for pneumococcal meningitis in adults. In Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) dexamethasone is also effectively preventing immune mediated damage of the lungs. There is also indication that dexamethasone may be promising in severe LF.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥ 18 years
* LF confirmed by RT-PCR (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) with a cycle threshold (Ct) value \< 30
* Signs of significant health impairment as evidenced by any of the following:
* Alert, confusion, voice, pain, unresponsive (ACVPU) other than A
* Systolic blood pressure \< 90 mmHg
* Seizure(s), meningism, coma, focal neurological deficit
* AST (GOT) \>3xULN
* ALT (GPT) \> 3xULN
* KDIGO 2 or more severe based on serum creatinine only
* Active macroscopic bleeding
* O2 saturation \< 92
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pregnancy (evidenced by positive urine pregnancy test in women of child-bearing potential)
* Lactation following live birth
* Known intolerance and contra-indications to ribavirin or dexamethasone
* Patients who already received a corticosteroid within the preceding 7 days
* Investigator's valuation that patient might be put to substantial risk by participating in this trial
* Patients receiving end-of-life care as judged by the investigator
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Proportion of treatment emergent adverse events and treatment emergent serious adverse events
Timeframe: Participants will be followed up until day 10 after enrollment.
Trial details
NCT IDNCT06222723
SponsorBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine