<![CDATA[Background Sepsis is a major health problem and a leading causeof death among children. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)has been reported in systemic inflammatory conditions.Objective To determine the effectiveness of IVIG in the treatmentof sepsis in children.Methods This was a hospital-based, retrospective study conductedfrom 2000-2001. Sixty neonates and children under 18 years oldwith sepsis were classified to either received or not received IVIG.The IVIG and the non-IVIG groups were compared. Data wasobtained from medical records.Results Of 60 sepsis cases, 16 were neonates (7 received IVIG, 9did not), and 44 were infants and children (25 received IVIGand 19 did not). In neonates, IVIG had no influence on mortality(P=0.838), while in non-neonatal cases, it improved the survivalrate (P=0.010). The suitability of the 1st antibiotic influencedthe outcome and length of stay in neonatal cases (P=0.005), butnot in the non-neonatal group (P=0.111). Although in somecases the 1 st antibiotic was not suitable, IVIG seemed to hold theprocess for a while, giving more time to adjust to a suitableantibiotic according to the culture result.Conclusions The addition of IVIG to standard therapies revealedminimum effect but showed benefit in holding the process, andseemed to improve survival in children, but not in neonates.]]>
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