[Treatment of croup syndrome in children in Poland: results of the prospective multi-center observation]. / Przeglad sposobów leczenia dzieci z podglosniowym zapaleniem krtani w swietle prospektywnych wieloosrodkowych obserwacji.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to estimate treatment practice in hospital management of croup syndrome (laryngitis subglottica) in children in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the period of 12 months, we have prospectively observed 482 children with croup syndrome admitted to 15 pediatric departments in Lower Silesia (south-west region of Poland). Data concerning epidemiology, clinical course and treatment were collected from uniform observation cards. There were 326 boys and 156 girls aged between 2 and 174 months in our study. RESULTS: Among 482 observed children, received glucocorticoids 424 (88%) mainly parenteral, L-epinephrine--211 (43.8%), mist therapy--241 (50%), antihistamines--308 (63.9%), antibiotics--280 (58.1%). Children treated with antibiotics were younger (p=0.0316), their temperature, amount of leukocytes and value of C-reactive protein was higher when compared with those not treated (p=0.0002; p=0.0081, p=0.0172 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Children in Lower Silesia with croup syndrome were treated in agreement with recent standards with glucocorticoids and/or epinephrine. There was an excessive usage of antihistamines which have no established treatment role. It seems that in many cases antibiotic treatment could have been avoided.