Dexamethasone being used to treat mild croup

Pamela Egan Practical Practitioner

 

By: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE

 

 

Dexamethasone being used to treat mild croup

 

 

Mild croup will be treated more frequently with dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is often used in moderate to severe croup. Now we know that it’s also beneficial in mild croup.

Steroids decrease inflammation and relieve symptoms, barking cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing. IM injections or oral solution are effective.

In more severe cases, steroids reduce the need for hospitalization and intubation. The “number needed to treat” puts this into perspective.

For every 13 children treated with mild croup with dexamethasone, one return visit is prevented. Steroids should be avoided in children with recent exposure to varicella (chicken pox) or pre-existing immunodeficiency.

This article was originally published November 22, 2004 in The St. Tammany News.

 

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