Comparing Different Ways of Delivering Humidity to Children With Croup

The Hospital for Sick Children129 enrolled

Overview

Croup affects 5% of children under 6 years of age, resulting in visits to hospital Emergency Departments, and in 1% of children, hospitalization. Traditionally, the first therapy offered is humidification which can liquify airway secretions and decrease airway swelling. This study will compare the effectivenesss of 40% and 100% humidity through a specially designed machine called a nebulizer, with the usual humidity set-up (blown into the patient's face from a hose).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

129

Conditions

Croup

Interventions

nebulized humidityDEVICE

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 MonthsMax age: 10 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * children aged 3 months - 10 years * croup score greater than or equal to 2 after a 30 minute waiting period Exclusion Criteria: * Symptoms of croup requiring immediate intervention with nebulized epinephrine or intubation * symptoms or signs of alternative causes of stridor * inability of caregivers to understand or speak English and/or sign for informed consent * history of chronic pulmonary disease except for asthma, or co-existent systemic disease * previous history of intubation * duration of present illness \>1 week * systemic or inhaled glucocorticoids in previous 48 hours * epinephrine in previous 4 hours

Locations (1)

The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

changes in the croup score from baseline to 30 and 60 minutes

Secondary Outcomes

steroid or epinephrine treatment at 60 minutes

discharge rate at 60 minutes

change in pulse, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation at 60 minutes

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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