Sore throat
A single dose of dexamethasone or another steroid speeds improvement of a sore throat. Contraindications
Contraindications of dexamethasone include, but are not limited to:

Uncontrolled infections
Known hypersensitivity to dexamethasone
Cerebral malaria
Systemic fungal infection
Concurrent treatment with live virus vaccines (including smallpox vaccine)

Adverse effects
The exact incidence of the adverse effects of dexamethasone are not available, hence estimates have been made as to the incidence of the adverse effects below based on the adverse effects of related corticosteroids and on available documentation on dexamethasone. Common
Unknown frequency
Withdrawal
Sudden withdrawal after long-term treatment with corticosteroids can lead to:

Interactions
Known drug interactions include:
Inducers of hepatic microsomal enzymes such as barbiturates, phenytoin, and rifampicin can reduce the half-life of dexamethasone. Cotreatment with oral contraceptives can increase its volume of distribution. Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
As a glucocorticoid, dexamethasone is an agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). It is highly selective for the GR over the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and in relation to this, has minimal mineralocorticoid activity. This is in contrast to endogenous corticosteroids like cortisol, which bind to and activate both the GR and the MR. Dexamethasone is 25 times more potent than hydrocortisone (cortisol) as a glucocorticoid. Its affinity (Ki) for the GR was about 1.2 nM in one study.The activation of the GR by dexamethasone results in dose-dependent suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis) and of production of endogenous corticosteroids by the adrenal glands, thereby reducing circulating endogenous concentrations of corticosteroids like cortisol and corticosterone.Dexamethasone poorly penetrates the blood–brain barrier into the central nervous system due to binding to P-glycoprotein.
Feingold syndrome (also called oculodigitoesophagoduodenal syndrome) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. It is named after Murray Feingold, an American physician who first described the syndrome in 1975. Until 2003, at least 79 patients have been reported worldwide. Presentation
Feingold syndrome is marked by various combinations of microcephaly, limb malformations, esophageal and duodenal atresias. Cognition is affected, and ranges from below-average IQ to mild intellectual disability. Genetics
Feingold syndrome is caused by mutations in the neuroblastoma-derived V-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral-related oncogene (MYCN) which is located on the short arm of chromosome 2 (2p24.1). This syndrome has also been linked to microdeletions in the MIR17HG locus which encodes a micro RNA cluster known as miR-17/92. Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on the following clinical findings:
microcephaly
clinodactyly and shortness of index and little fingers
syndactyly of 2nd & 3rd and 4th & 5th toe
short palpebral fissures
esophageal and/or duodenal atresia

Treatment
There is no known treatment for the disorder, but surgery for malformations, special education, and treatment of hearing loss are important. References
External links

GeneReview/NIH/UW entry on Feingold syndrome