1. What data in particular will be shared?
   Response - All of the individual participant data collected during the trial, after de-identification.
   


2. What additional supporting information will be shared?
   Response -  Study Protocol
   Response -  Statistical Analysis Plan
   Response - Clinical Study Report
   
   
3. Who will be able to view these files?
   Response - Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal.
   


4. For what types of analyses will this data be available?
   Response - To achieve aims in the approved proposal.
   


5. By what mechanism will data be made available?
   Response - Proposals should be directed to [siddannagoud@gmail.com].
   


6. For how long will this data be available start date provided 15-07-2026 and end date provided 15-07-2030?
   Response - Beginning 3 months and ending 5 years following article publication.
   


7. Any URL or additional information regarding plan/policy for sharing IPD? 
   Additional Information - NIL

• Pneumonia is the single greatest cause of death in children worldwide. Nearly 2 million children younger than 5 years die each year of pneumonia, representing nearly 20-24% of all deaths in children within this age group. With the widespread use of antibiotics also, there is considerable mortality among children. Increasing evidence supports a central role of the immune system in sepsis, but the current view of how sepsis affects immunity, and vice versa, is still rudimentary. Understanding how immunological alterations predispose to sepsis, key aspects of the immunopathological events during sepsis, and the long-term consequences of sepsis on a patient’s immunity are particularly important. . Cytokine storms during infections can lead to poor outcomes. It is been hypothesized that CAP patients would have different cytokine profiles according to their different causes, severity, and outcomes. Studies have shown that corticosteroids reduce proinflammatory cytokines in pneumonia and may improve clinical outcomes in adults. Hence we are conducting this study.Dexamethasone in severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia in children – a randomized controlled trial: DeCAP trial, to look for whether it reduces the mortality. In this study Patients in the intervention group will receive dexamethasone at 0.1mg/kg/dose every 8 hours for 5 days. The intravenous route will be used. Patients of the control group will receive an intravenous placebo (Normal saline) by an intravenous route at the same frequency. Dexamethasone or placebo will be given in a double-blind fashion for 5 days. Patients will be monitored any anaphylaxis reaction, features of fluid retention, Acid and electrolyte disturbances (Hypokalaemia, Hypernatremia, Metabolic alkalosis), Hyperglycaemia, Hypertension, new infections after starting dexamethasone till first 5 days. After 5 days patients will be monitored for neutrophilia, lymphopenia and new onset infections during the hospital stay or till primary outcome. In case of discharge after 5 days patient will be followed physically or telephonically to look for primary outcome and new infections. The primary and secondary outcome will be recorded and followed up for next 28 days in both the groups. Patients will also be followed till 90 days either physically or telephonically.