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Table 3 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

From: Single dose oral dexamethasone versus multi-dose prednisolone in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the emergency department: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Inclusion criteria:

· Ages 2 to 16 years

· Background history of asthma (as defined below)

· Presentation with an asthma exacerbation (as defined below)

Exclusion Criteria:

· Less than 2 years old or over 16 years

 

· Critical or life-threatening asthma (as defined below)

 

· Known TB exposure

 

· Active varicella or herpes simplex infection

 

· Documented concurrent infection with RSV

 

· Fever >39.5°C

 

· Use of oral corticosteroids in the previous four weeks

 

· Concurrent stridor

 

· Galactose intolerance, the Lapp-lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption

 

· Significant co-morbid disease: lung, cardiac, immune, liver, endocrine, neurological or psychiatric