Table 2.

Selected randomised controlled trials of corticosteroid versus placebo in the treatment of croup

	Patients (n)	Croup severity	Setting	Route of administration and medication	Primary outcome	Results
Bjornson (2004)87	720	Mild	Emergency department	Oral dexamethasone vs placebo	Return to medical care within 7 days	Reduction (7% vs 15%, p<0·001)
Geelhoed (1996)88	100	Mild	Emergency department	Oral dexamethasone vs placebo	Return to medical care within 7–10 days after study treatment	Reduction (0% vs 17%, p<0·01)
Johnson (1998)47	144	Moderate to severe	Emergency department	Nebulised budesonide or intramuscular dexamethasone vs placebo	Rate of admission	Reduction (35% vs 67%, p<0·001)
Tibballs (1992)89	70	Respiratory failure or intubated	Intensive-care unit	Oral prednisolone vs placebo	Duration of intubation	Reduction (median 98 vs 138 h, p<0·003)
Geelhoed (1995)90	80	Moderate to severe	Admitted children	Nebulised budesonide or oral dexamethasone vs placebo	Duration of admission	Reduction (12/13 h vs 20 h, p<0·03)
Klassen (1994)91	54	Mild to moderate	Emergency department	Nebulised budesonide vs placebo	Clinical croup score at 4 h	Improvement (18% vs 6%, p=0·005)