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. 2014 Sep 29;2014:0321.
Ref (type) Population Outcome, Interventions Results and statistical analysis Effect size Favours
Hospital return visits and/or (re-)admission rates

Systematic review
219 children (3 months–12 years) with moderate croup in an outpatient setting
2 RCTs in this analysis
Return visits and/or (re-)admissions
12/125 (10%) with oral dexamethasone
28/94 (30%) with oral prednisolone

RR 0.32
95% CI 0.17 to 0.60
P = 0.00045
Oral dexamethasone

RCT
87 children (1–8 years) with mild (42%) or moderate (58%) croup presenting in primary care Hospital admission day 11
1/46 (2%) with oral dexamethasone (single dose) followed by 2 days of placebo
0/41 (0%) with oral prednisolone for 3 days

P = 0.0
Not significant

RCT
87 children (1–8 years) with mild (42%) or moderate (58%) croup presenting in primary care Office or clinic visit day 11
0/46 (0%) with oral dexamethasone (single dose) followed by 2 days of placebo
3/41 (7%) with oral prednisolone for 3 days

P = 0.1
Not significant