Community Care for Croup (RCT)

Inclusion Criteria: * children aged 1 to 8 years old (not yet reached their 9th birthday), who have croup symptoms for less than or equal to 48 hours and have a physician diagnosis of mild or moderate croup. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe croup or impending respiratory failure; * another reason to indicate the need for hospitalization; * symptoms or signs to suggest another cause of stridor; * active varicella infection; * diabetes; * known immunodeficiency disease; * chronic respiratory disease such as CF (Cystic Fibrosis); * prescribed a controller medication or oral steroids for asthma in the past 12 months; * a history of TB(tuberculosis) in a household member; * treatment for seizures; * treatment with epinephrine or oral corticosteroids for this croup episode before enrollment; * not accompanied by their legal guardian; * the accompanying adult will not be in the same household as the child for the next four days; * parent/legal guardian is unavailable for telephone follow-up or does not speak English.