ACTRN12609000290291.

Trial name or title	Oral prednisolone compared to oral dexamethasone (in 2 different doses) in children with croup: randomised clinical trial comparing the improvement in Westley croup score
Methods	Randomised controlled trial (parallel)
Participants	Inclusion criteria: children aged 6 months to 10 years with a clinical diagnosis of croup (laryngotracheitis, laryngotracheobronchitis); weight no more than 20 kg; parents could be contacted by telephone; parents speak English Exclusion criteria: high clinical suspicion of an alternative diagnosis; known allergy to prednisolone or dexamethasone; immunosuppressive disease or treatment; steroid therapy in the past 14 days; enrolment in the present study in the past 14 days (i.e. repeat enrolment)
Interventions	Treatment 1: single 1 mg/kg dose of oral prednisolone Treatment 2: single 0.15 mg/kg dose of oral dexamethasone
Outcomes	Westley croup score; unscheduled medical re‐attendance/readmission; length of stay in hospital; use of additional treatments
Starting date	18 March 2009
Contact information	Dr Colin Parker. Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Roberts Road Subiaco 6008 Western Australia, Australia. Colin.Parker@health.wa.gov.au
Notes	Trial registration at the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) (ACTRN12609000290291); funding source: Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation