Staying in the open cold air for half an hour reduced the severity of croup in children
Exposing the child to cold (below 10°C) open air for 30 minutes in addition to oral dexamethasone therapy can significantly relieve the severity of croup symptoms in children. The benefit of cold air is most evident in patients with moderately severe croup.Researchers from the University of Geneva evaluated the effectiveness of a 30-minute exposure to cold ambient air after oral dexamethasone therapy in children with croup. The results of the study are published in the journal Pediatrics.
After staying in cold air for half an hour, croup severity decreased by 2 points or more on the Westley scale in 49.2% of the children. Among participants who remained indoors, croup severity decreased in 23.7% of children. The risk difference was 25.4%. Among participants with moderate severity croup, the risk difference was greatest at 46.1%. In addition, more participants in the cold-exposure group showed a 3-point reduction in croup severity (13.6% and 3.4%, respectively).
Researchers noted that croup is the most common cause of acute upper airway obstruction in children. As a rule, in these cases, corticosteroids are prescribed, the effect of which comes only after 30 minutes.
The study included 118 children aged 3 months to 10 years with croup severity of at least 2 points on the Westley scale on admission. The average age of the children was 32 months. Patients were equally divided into 2 groups. Participants in the first were exposed to open cold air (below 10°C) for 30 minutes after receiving oral dexamethasone, while the others remained indoors. The exposure temperature difference was 20°C and the humidity difference was 38%. The frequency of croup severity score reduction from 2 points from baseline after 30 minutes was assessed.