Using melatonin to help treat childhood pneumonia
The Role of Melatonin as an Adjuvant Therapy in Childhood Pneumonia
This study is testing if adding melatonin to the usual antibiotic treatment can help children with pneumonia leave the hospital sooner.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase1; Phase2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 1 Month to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Islamabad, Islamabad) |
| Trial ID | NCT06949904 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin as an adjuvant therapy in children diagnosed with pneumonia. It compares the length of hospital stay between two groups: one receiving standard antibiotic treatment alone and the other receiving standard treatment plus melatonin for 14 days. The hypothesis is that the addition of melatonin will lead to a shorter hospital stay for the children. The study will measure the duration of hospitalization from admission to discharge based on specific clinical improvement criteria.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 1 month to 12 years diagnosed with pneumonia or severe pneumonia.
Not a fit: Patients with recent hospitalization, known TB exposure, or significant co-morbid diseases may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the length of hospital stays for children with pneumonia, improving overall patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of melatonin in pneumonia treatment is not widely tested, similar studies exploring its benefits in other conditions have shown promising results.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 1 month to 12 years * Both genders * Patient diagnosed as having pneumonia or severe pneumonia according to WHO definition Exclusion Criteria: * Hospitalized within 14 days prior to the study * Known TB exposure * Active varicella or herpes simplex infection * Allergy to the study medication * Currently taking melatonin * Any non pneumonia acute medical illness which requires antibiotic treatment as per local standard of care * Galactose intolerance, the lapp-lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption * Significant co-morbid disease: lung, cardiac, immune, liver, endocrine, neurological or psychiatric
Where this trial is running
Islamabad, Islamabad
- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences — Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.