Dexamethasone is a type of steroid medication. It has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. It is 25 times more potent than cortisol in its glucocorticoid effect, while having minimal mineralocorticoid effect.Dexamethasone is used for the treatment of many conditions including: rheumatologic problems, a number of skin diseases such as erythema multiforme, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, and cerebral edema, in addition to other medications in tuberculosis and a number of other infectious diseases.It is pregnancy category C in the United States and class A in Australia, meaning it has been frequently used in pregnancy and not been found to cause problems for the baby.It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.