Total serum IL-6 and TNF-C levels in children with bronchopneumonia following treatment with methylprednisolone in combination with azithromycin.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the expression levels of total serum interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-C in children with bronchopneumonia treated by methylprednisolone in combination with azithromycin.

METHODS

Eighty-three children with bronchopneumonia were randomly divided into a test group (TG) and a control group (CG). The TG was comprised of 40 children treated with methylprednisolone combined with azithromycin, whereas the CG was comprised of 43 patients who received methylprednisolone monotherapy. The post-treatment effective rates and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. In addition, the resolution times of symptoms such as fever, cough, moist rale, asthma, and shadow on the lung X-ray were recorded. The levels of the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-C (TNF-C) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured after treatment. The quality of life was evaluated and compared based on the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

RESULTS

The total effective rate in the TG was significantly higher than that in the CG. The expression levels of TNF-C and IL-6 in the TG were significantly lower than those in the CG. The resolution times of the clinical symptoms were significantly shorter in the TG than in the CG. The ACT (Asthma Control Test) score in the TG was significantly lower than that in the CG. The TG presented with a significantly lower incidence of adverse reactions than that the CG.

CONCLUSION

The combined administration of methylprednisolone and antibiotics can effectively improve the levels of serum inflammatory factors and the clinical symptoms in children with bronchopneumonia.