Dexamethasone after early-life seizures attenuates increased susceptibility to seizures, seizure-induced microglia activation and neuronal injury later in life.

•KA-SZ in P25 rat increased seizure severity, injury, and activated microglia at P39.•Short course (2-day) dexamethasone after KA-SZ decreased acute microglia activation.•Post-SZ dexamethasone decreased severity of seizures provoked at P39.•Post-SE dexamethasone decreased second SZ-induced microglia activation and injury.•Prolonged dexamethasone (1 week) caused weight loss and mortality regardless of SZ.