No difference between oral and nebulised steroids in croup
Report by: Sue Maurice - Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Search checked by: Terry Gilpin - Clinical Fellow in Emergency Medicine
Institution: Manchester Royal Infirmary
Date Submitted:
Date Accepted:
Last Modified: 20 September, 2002
Three Part Question
In [a child with croup] is [oral dexamethazone better than nebulised budesonide] at [reducing length of stay and reducing croup score]
Clinical Scenario
A 3 year old child attending the emergency department with moderately severe croup. I know that croup responds to steroid therapy, but I want to know whether oral dexamethasone is a better treatment than nebulised budesonide. Here is some extra text in the clinical scenario.
Search Strategy
Medline 1996-Nov/02 using the OVID interface.
[exp croup OR croup ti.ab.sh OR laryngotracheitis ti.ab.sh OR laryngotracheobronchitis ti.ab.sh] AND [budesonide ti.ab.sh OR dexamethasone ti.ab.sh]
Search Outcome
111 papers found of which 63 were irrelevant. The remaining paper is shown in the table.
Relevant Paper(s)
| Author, Date, and Country |
Patient Group |
Study type (level of evidence) |
Outcomes |
Key results |
Study Weaknesses |
| asdgsadgasdgasdg |
asdg |
asdg |
asdg |
asdg |
asdg |
| Tollemache N2017UK |
Patient Group |
Study Details |
Outcomes
Here's a new line |
Key Results |
Weaknesses |
Comments
There is no significant difference in the clinical effectiveness of oral and nebulised steroids in croup. The effect of simple humidification has not been accounted for in this study.
Bottom Line
Either oral dexamethasone or nebulised budesonide can be used to good effect in moderately severe croup. Dexamethasone is currently much cheaper.
References
- asdgsadg. test
- Tollemache N. Antibiotics to prevent infection in patients with dog bite wounds: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.