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Croup - Management
How should I treat a child with croup?
- Give all children with mild, moderate, or severe croup a single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.15 mg per kg body weight). If it is not possible to weigh the child then as a rough guide the dose would be 1.5–2 mg for a child of average size aged 12–15 months and 2–3 mg for a child of average size aged 3–4 years.
- Providers of urgent care services should ensure that dexamethasone is available.
- Oral prednisolone (1–2 mg per kg body weight) is an alternative if dexamethasone is not available. Consider giving a second dose if residual symptoms of stridor are still present the following day.
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