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Three Part Question

In [a child with croup] is [low dose oral dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg or 0.3 mg/kg) as good as 0.6 mg/kg] at [reducing croup score and length of stay]?

Clinical Scenario

A 2 year old child presents to the emergency department with respiratory distress and stridor. You suspect croup and want to include dexamethasone in the child's treatment. You wonder what dose of steroids is best to reduce symptoms and hospital length of stay.

Search Strategy

Ovid Medline 1950 to November week 3 2008
{[exp Dexamethasone/ or dexamethasone.mp or steroid.mp. or exp Steroids/ or glucocorticoid.mp. or exp Glucocorticoids/ or corticosteroid.mp] AND and [croup.mp. or exp Croup/ or laryngotracheobronchitis.mp]}

Search Outcome

222 papers were found of which one was found to be relevant.

Relevant Paper(s)

Author, date and country	Patient group	Study type (level of evidence)	Outcomes	Key results	Study Weaknesses