Pseudocroup: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic target

Relief of symptoms or freedom from symptoms.

	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Systemic glucocorticoids	Dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg bw p.o.) or prednisolone suppository. If rectal administration is not safe: i.v. injection of prednisolone equivalents (1-2 mg/kg bw) or Budesonide 2 mg inh.		Dexamethasone (0.6 mg/kg bw p.o. or i.v.).
Sympathomimetics	None	Epinephrine (dilution 1: 1,000), 0.5 mg/kg bw (max. 5 mg/ED) inh. or Epinephrine (racemate, 2.25%, 0.05 ml/kg bw) inh.If needed: 2-8-hourly repetition.	Epinephrine (dilution 1: 1,000), 0.5 mg/kg bw (max. 5 mg/ED) inh. or Epinephrine (racemate, 2.25% strength, 0.05 ml/kg bw) inh.If needed: 1-2-hourly repetition.
Oxygen therapy	None	O2 at SaO2 > 93 %	O2 at SaO2 > 93 %
Inpatient treatment	No	Consider	Required!Intensive monitoring, if necessary.