Efficacy Of Oral Dexamethasone Versus Parenteral Dexamethasone In The Management Of Mild To Moderate Croup

Summary

Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a viral infection of the upper airway that causes throat swelling, leading to a barking cough, stridor, and hoarseness. It mainly affects children aged 6 months to 12 years, peaking at around 2 years. Most cases are mild and self-limiting. Emergency treatments include cool mist, nebulized epinephrine, and steroids. Steroid therapy, particularly dexamethasone (oral or intramuscular), is commonly used, with recent studies suggesting intramuscular dexamethasone may be more effective. However, most research has focused on hospitalized patients, and there is a lack of local data for mild cases. This study aims to address that gap and improve patient counseling and future research

Timeline

Start

2024-10-01

Primary completion

2025-03-01

Completion

2025-03-01

Publications

• Results Smith DK, McDermott AJ, Sullivan JF. Croup: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2018 May 1;97(9):575-580.
• Results Parker CM, Cooper MN. Prednisolone Versus Dexamethasone for Croup: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3):e20183772. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3772. Epub 2019 Aug 15.
• Results Lin SC, Lin HW, Chiang BL. Association of croup with asthma in children: A cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Sep;96(35):e7667. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007667.
• Results Peltz A, Wu CL, White ML, Wilson KM, Lorch SA, Thurm C, Hall M, Berry JG. Characteristics of Rural Children Admitted to Pediatric Hospitals. Pediatrics. 2016 May;137(5):e20153156. doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-3156. Epub 2016 Apr 11.
• Results Parikh K, Hall M, Mittal V, Montalbano A, Gold J, Mahant S, Wilson KM, Shah SS. Comparative Effectiveness of Dexamethasone versus Prednisone in Children Hospitalized with Asthma. J Pediatr. 2015 Sep;167(3):639-44.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.06.038.

Drugs

Indications