[Treatment of croup syndrome in children in Poland: results of the prospective multi-center observation].

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.