Podcast 890: Outdoor Cold Air for Croup

Croup is a respiratory condition typically caused by a viral infection (e.g., parainfluenza). The disease is characterized by inflammation of the larynx and trachea, which often leads to a distinctive barking cough.

A common treatment for croup is the powerful steroid dexamethasone, but it can take up to 30 minutes to start working.

A folk remedy for croup is to take the afflicted child outside in the cold to help them breathe better, but does it really work?

A 2023 study in Switzerland, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, investigated whether a 30-minute exposure to outdoor cold air could improve mild to moderate croup symptoms before the onset of steroid effects.

The randomized controlled trial included children aged 3 months to 10 years with croup.

After receiving a single-dose oral dexamethasone, participants were exposed to either outdoor cold air or indoor room air. The primary outcome was a decrease in the Westley Croup Score (WCS) by at least 2 points at 30 minutes.

The results indicated that exposure to outdoor cold air, in addition to dexamethasone, significantly reduced symptoms in children with croup, especially in those with moderate cases.