Which conditions are systemic steroids primarily used to manage?

Systemic steroids are primarily used to manage conditions characterized by significant inflammation and autoimmunity. Lupus and multiple sclerosis are both systemic diseases in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, leading to widespread inflammation.

In lupus, systemic steroids help reduce inflammation and suppress the overactive immune response, alleviating symptoms such as joint pain, rashes, and organ involvement. For multiple sclerosis, steroids are often used during acute exacerbations to reduce inflammation in the nervous system and help restore function.

While asthma, contact dermatitis, hives, allergic reactions, and infections involve inflammatory processes or allergic responses, these conditions can often be managed with localized treatments or alternative medications before escalating to systemic steroid use. Chronic pain and fever, meanwhile, are typically addressed with analgesics and antipyretics rather than steroids. Therefore, the conditions that lend themselves most effectively to management with systemic steroids are indeed the autoimmune disorders like lupus and multiple sclerosis.