Humidified air inhalation for treating croup: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Humidified air inhalation for treating croup: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background. Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a common cause of upper airway obstruction in children. Treatment with humidified air was previously widely used and is still commonly recommended as home treatment.
Objective. To assess the efficacy of humidified air in the treatment of croup.
Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data sources. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE.
Review methods. We included randomized controlled trials with or without blinding. All studies treating children with a clinical diagnosis of croup with warm or cool humidified air delivered by steam or humidified tent whether inpatients, attenders at the Emergency Department or in the community were eligible.
Main results. Three studies in emergency settings provided data on 135 patients with moderate croup for the main outcome (croup score). The combined results from 20 to 60 minutes in the three studies marginally favoured the treatment group with a weighted standardized mean difference of -0.14 (95% confidence interval = -0.75 to 0.47). No outcomes were significantly different between the groups.
Conclusions. The croup score of children managed in an emergency setting with mild to moderate croup probably does not improve greatly with inhalation of humidified air. There is insufficient evidence to exclude either a small beneficial or a harmful effect.
cochrane, emergency medicine, meta-analysis, paediatrics
295-301
Moore, Michael
1be81dad-7120-45f0-bbed-f3b0cc0cfe99
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
25 April 2007
Moore, Michael
1be81dad-7120-45f0-bbed-f3b0cc0cfe99
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Moore, Michael and Little, Paul
(2007)
Humidified air inhalation for treating croup: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Family Practice, 24 (4), .
(doi:10.1093/fampra/cmm022).
(PMID:17602176)
Abstract
Background. Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a common cause of upper airway obstruction in children. Treatment with humidified air was previously widely used and is still commonly recommended as home treatment.
Objective. To assess the efficacy of humidified air in the treatment of croup.
Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data sources. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE.
Review methods. We included randomized controlled trials with or without blinding. All studies treating children with a clinical diagnosis of croup with warm or cool humidified air delivered by steam or humidified tent whether inpatients, attenders at the Emergency Department or in the community were eligible.
Main results. Three studies in emergency settings provided data on 135 patients with moderate croup for the main outcome (croup score). The combined results from 20 to 60 minutes in the three studies marginally favoured the treatment group with a weighted standardized mean difference of -0.14 (95% confidence interval = -0.75 to 0.47). No outcomes were significantly different between the groups.
Conclusions. The croup score of children managed in an emergency setting with mild to moderate croup probably does not improve greatly with inhalation of humidified air. There is insufficient evidence to exclude either a small beneficial or a harmful effect.
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Published date: 25 April 2007
Keywords:
cochrane, emergency medicine, meta-analysis, paediatrics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 181659
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/181659
ISSN: 0263-2136
PURE UUID: 361521f9-39c7-4da5-a9fd-d499b875cdd7
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Date deposited: 18 Apr 2011 09:28
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:21
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