Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Change in croup score
Systematic review	99 children (6 months–6 years) with moderate croup (Westley Croup Score 2 or greater) in an outpatient setting Data from 1 RCT	Mean between-group change from baseline Westley Croup Score 6 hours –2.16 with oral dexamethasone (65 children) –2.35 with oral prednisolone (34 children)	WMD 0.19 95% CI –0.17 to +0.55 P = 0.30		Not significant
RCT	87 children (1–8 years) with mild (42%) or moderate (58%) croup presenting in primary care	Mean croup score (assessed using Telephone Out Patient score; 0 = no symptoms, 3 = barky cough and stridor at rest) day 1 post-treatment commencement 0.9 with oral dexamethasone (single dose) followed by 2 days of placebo 1.0 with oral prednisolone for 3 days	P = 0.42		Not significant