[Treatment of croup syndrome in children in Poland: results of the prospective multi-center observation].
The aim of the study was to estimate treatment practice in hospital management of croup syndrome (laryngitis subglottica) in children in Poland.


METHODS
During the period of 12 months, we have prospectively observed 482 children with croup syndrome admitted to 15 pediatric departments in Lower Silesia (south-west region of Poland). Data concerning epidemiology, clinical course and treatment were collected from uniform observation cards. There were 326 boys and 156 girls aged between 2 and 174 months in our study.


RESULTS
Among 482 observed children, received glucocorticoids 424 (88%) mainly parenteral, L-epinephrine--211 (43.8%), mist therapy--241 (50%), antihistamines--308 (63.9%), antibiotics--280 (58.1%). Children treated with antibiotics were younger (p=0.0316), their temperature, amount of leukocytes and value of C-reactive protein was higher when compared with those not treated (p=0.0002; p=0.0081, p=0.0172 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Children in Lower Silesia with croup syndrome were treated in agreement with recent standards with glucocorticoids and/or epinephrine. There was an excessive usage of antihistamines which have no established treatment role. It seems that in many cases antibiotic treatment could have been avoided.
Pejcz
Jerzy
J
Oddział Dzieciecy Szpitala Powiatowego w Trzebnicy.
Szenborn
Leszek
L
Szymański
Henryk
H
Krajewski
Waldemar
W
Narecki
Jarosław
J
Filipczak
Renata
R
Piotrowska-Gede
Zdzisława
Z
Widlińska-Podlacha
Anna
A
Iliew-Kedzia
Joanna
J
Tuchcińska-Sowa
Jolanta
J
Ujma
Leszek
L
Kijlianek
Edyta
E
Smorag
Małgorzata
M
Czeszejko-Sochacki
Jarosław
J
Raczyńska
Małgorzata
M
Trojniak
Krystyna
K
Olesiuk
Krzysztof
K
Gdowska
Elzbieta
E
Sapota
Joanna
J
Ramzzi-Samaan
Imad
I
Kowalska
Elzbieta
E
Kałas
Andrzej
A
Lewczyk
Ewa
E
Sidor
Danuta
D
Michniewicz
Leszek
L
Kozieł
Eleonora
E
Kobylińska
Sabina
S
Kobyliński
Krzysztof
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003440:Croup / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D004837:Epinephrine