OUTPATIENT
TREATMENT OF MODERATE CROUP WITH DEXAMETHASONE: INTRAMUSCULAR VERSUS ORAL
DOSING.
Rittichier
KK, Ledwith CA. Pediatrics 2000 Dec;106(6):1344-8.
OBJECTIVE:
Steroid use for the treatment of croup has been supported by several studies,
although few have addressed the use of oral dexamethasone for outpatient
management. The efficacy of oral (PO) versus intramuscular (IM) dosing of
dexamethasone in the outpatient treatment of moderate croup are compared in
this study.
METHODS:
Patients between the ages of 3 months and 12 years with moderate croup (history
or presence of stridor, cyanosis, or retractions) were eligible for enrollment
in this single-blind, prospective study. Patients were randomized to receive a
single dose (0.6 mg/kg, maximum 8 mg) of IM or PO dexamethasone. Parents were
contacted by phone to assess resolution of symptoms and need for further
evaluation.
RESULTS:
Two hundred seventy-seven patients were enrolled (median age: 2.1 years). One
hundred thirty-nine patients received IM dexamethasone, and 138 received PO. At
phone follow-up, 141 (51%) had total resolution of symptoms (75 in IM, 66 in
PO). Eighty patients (29%) returned for further evaluation (45 in IM, 35 in
PO). Twenty-three (8%) received either more steroids, racemic epinephrine, or
admission (11 in IM, 12 in PO).
CONCLUSION:
No statistically significant difference was found in the need for subsequent
interventions after a single dose of either IM or PO dexamethasone. A single PO
dose of dexamethasone can be effectively and safely used for the outpatient
treatment of moderate croup.
INTRAMUSCULAR VERSUS ORAL DEXAMETHASONE FOR THE
TREATMENT OF MODERATE-TO-SEVERE CROUP: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL.
Donaldson D, et al. Acad Emerg Med 2003 Jan;10(1):16-21.
BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids are an effective treatment for croup, although the
most beneficial route of administration remains unclear. Recent studies have
concluded that both intramuscular dexamethasone and oral dexamethasone are
effective treatments, but there are few data directly comparing the two for
moderate-to-severe croup.
OBJECTIVES: The
authors' primary objective was to determine whether there is a difference in
proportion of children with resolution of symptoms attributable to croup at 24
hours, when treated with oral or intramuscular dexamethasone. Secondarily, the
authors sought to estimate whether there is a difference in proportion of children
with resolution of symptoms attributable to croup at 10 days and to estimate
the interval to complete resolution of symptoms between these two routes.
METHODS: The authors performed a prospective,
randomized, double-blind trial involving children aged 3-84 months with
moderate-to-severe croup, presenting to a suburban teaching emergency
department (ED). Patients were eligible for enrollment if they had inspiratory
stridor or a barky cough and a croup score of 2 or greater after 10-15 minutes
of cool mist therapy. The patients were randomized to one of two intervention
groups. In both groups, the parents were not present in the treatment room
during study drug administration. One group received 0.6 mg/kg of intramuscular
dexamethasone and an oral placebo, while the other group received 0.6 mg/kg of
oral dexamethasone and direct pressure on their thigh with the hub of a
syringe. A nurse placed a Band-Aid on the site of the real or mock injection.
Parents were contacted by telephone approximately 1 and 10 days after the index
visit to ask about their child's symptoms using a standardized questionnaire.
Data were analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach.
RESULTS: Of 126 patients eligible, 96 were
recruited, with complete follow-up on 95. The groups were similar in all
baseline characteristics, treatments received in the ED, and disposition. At 24
hours and 10 days after the visit, there were no statistical differences
between the groups for the proportion with stridor, expiratory sounds, barky
cough, sleep pattern, the degree of improvement, or the proportion with
complete resolution of symptoms at one day.
CONCLUSIONS: No statistical differences for any
parameters were observed between intramuscular and oral dexamethasone
treatments for children with moderate-to-severe croup at 24 hours or at any
time the week after treatment. The durations of symptoms were similar between
the treatment groups.