Baseline characteristics of 133 children with mild to moderate croup.
| Variable | Dexamethasone | Prednisolone |
|---|---|---|
| Values are means (SD) or n. | ||
| Sao2, arterial oxygen saturation. | ||
| Number studied | 68 | 65 |
| Male/female | 43/25 | 48/17 |
| GP referral | 45 | 46 |
| Age (months) | 37 (28.8) | 45 (31.6) |
| Weight (kg) | 15.7 (7.3) | 17.8 (7.3) |
| Duration of symptoms (h) | 24 (4) | 19 (3) |
| Pulse rate (beats/min) | 129 (24) | 133 (24) |
| Temperature (°C) | 36.8 (1.1) | 37.5 (0.8) |
| Respiratory rate (/min) | 30 (9) | 30 (9) |
| % Sao2 in air (%) | 97 (1) | 97 (1) |
| Initial croup score | 2.0 (1.3) | 2.0 (1.2) |
| Viral/spasmodic (n) | 52/16 | 55/10 |
| Previous croup (n) | 7 | 11 |