A large multicentre trial in Canada has found that that most, if not all, children with croup benefit from treatment with a corticosteroid.

The authors of the randomised controlled trial say that a single dose of oral dexamethasone may be an effective treatment for mild croup. The benefits of dexamethasone for croup that is moderate to severe are already well established.

Although the researchers found, as expected, that among untreated children with mild croup the burden of disease was low, the trial showed small but consistent and important benefits from treatment. Dexamethasone improved recuperation and helped children sleep better, according to the researchers (New …