The use of corticosteroid (dexamethasone) in the treatment of acute laryngotracheitis

Abstract

Many practitioners have considered that steroids, with their anti-inflammatory properties, should be efficacious in the treatment of acute laryngotracheitis. To examine this theory, 200 consecutive cases of acute laryngotracheitis admitted to The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, were included in a double-blind study using dexamethasone-21-phosphate and placebo according to a random selection code. All other therapy was kept constant. Each patient was assessed by one observer according to seven clinical parameters.The results of this study were subjected to statistical analysis and significantly favoured the steroid-treated group in four parameters only. In view of the risks inherent in steroid therapy, this degree of difference is not sufficient to warrant routine use of this drug for patients with acute laryngotracheitis.