Oral prednisolone in the acute management of children age 6 to 35 months with viral respiratory infection-induced lower airway disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of oral prednisolone in virally induced respiratory distress. Study design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 230 children age 6 to 35 months in the emergency department. Each patient received either oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg/d) or placebo for 3 days.


RESULTS
The hospitalization rates were similar between the two groups. For admitted children (n=123), the median length of stay was 1 day shorter in the prednisolone group (2 vs 3 days, P=.060). The proportion of children requiring >or=3 days of hospitalization was 47.5% in the prednisolone group and 67.7% in the placebo group (P=.023). There was less need for additional asthma medication (18.0% vs 37.1%, P=.018) in the prednisolone group. The median duration of symptoms of respiratory distress was 1 day in the prednisolone group versus 2 days in the placebo group both among the hospitalized (P<.001) and nonhospitalized children (P=.006).


CONCLUSIONS
A 3-day course of oral prednisolone effectively reduced disease severity, length of hospital stay, and the duration of symptoms among children 6 to 35 months old with virally induced respiratory distress.
Csonka
Péter
P
Department of Pharmacy, University of Tampere School of Public Health and Research Unit, and the Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. peter.csonka@uta.fi
Kaila
Minna
M
Laippala
Pekka
P
Iso-Mustajärvi
Marja
M
Vesikari
Timo
T
Ashorn
Per
P
D000284:Administration, Oral; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone