Oral dosing of dexamethasone was as effective as intramuscular dosing for outpatient treatment of children with moderate croup
QUESTION: Is oral administration of dexamethasone as effective as intramuscular administration for outpatient treatment of children with moderate croup?
Design
Randomised (allocation not concealed), blinded (outcome assessors), controlled trial with follow up at 48–72 hours after the acute care visit.
Setting
The emergency department of a children's hospital in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Patients
317 children who were 3 months to 12 years of age, had moderate croup (defined as a clinical syndrome of hoarseness and barky cough associated with a presence or history of stridor at rest and/or retractions), and onset of illness for <48 hours. Exclusion criteria were epiglottitis, foreign body aspiration, reactive airway exacerbation, acute bacterial pneumonia, acquired or congenital upper airway anomaly, immunocompromised status, or steroid exposure during the previous 2 weeks. 277 children (87%) were included in the analysis (median age 2 y, 69% boys). …
