Acta paediatrica Scandinavica
-
Acta Paediatr Scand · Jan 1988
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dexamethasone and racemic epinephrine in the treatment of croup.
Seventy-two children hospitalized for croup received on admission a single dose of either 0.6 mg/kg dexamethasone or an equivalent placebo intramuscularly from randomized ampules; subsequently the same patients were randomized to receive either nebulized racemic epinephrine or saline by intermittent positive pressure breathing. Of the four treatment groups those receiving a placebo injection and nebulized saline had the slowest recovery by all criteria. ⋯ We conclude that a single injection of a potent corticosteroid is beneficial in acute spasmodic croup. Nebulized racemic epinephrine given with an appropriate device is also effective, but the effect of epinephrine is less remarkable in patients treated with dexamethasone.