RESUMO
Croup, also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, frequently leads to blockages in the upper respiratory tract in young children, presenting symptoms, such as a raspy voice, a distinctive cough, and noisy breathing during inhalation. Despite being a condition that often resolves on its own, it puts considerable strain on healthcare resources due to regular doctor visits, emergency room usage, and occasional hospital stays. Research focused on larger populations suggests that only a small percentage of children with croup end up requiring hospital admission for their condition. In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we executed a meticulous systematic review by scouring databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 10 articles met our inclusion criteria and were selected for in-depth analysis. These scholarly works provided substantive insights into the pharmacological agents deployed in the treatment of croup. From a clinical standpoint, the management of croup is highly contingent on the patient's hemodynamic status. Our review discerned a pronounced preference for corticosteroids as the primary therapeutic intervention over other alternatives, which are largely relegated to second-line or emergency applications. Interestingly, we found negligible differences among the various corticosteroid treatment options in terms of statistical significance, underscoring their broad utility in ameliorating the condition. In addition to corticosteroids, our review also explored other therapeutic options, such as heliox, nebulized adrenaline, and even natural interventions, such as exposure to outdoor cold air. The efficacy of these treatments demonstrated variable results, reinforcing the notion that while they may be useful in specific circumstances, they are not universally applicable or as robustly effective as corticosteroids. Given the preponderance of evidence favoring corticosteroids, further research is warranted to solidify their status as the first-line treatment in different medical settings, be it inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, or even for home-based care. Such studies will not only add a layer of confidence in current medical practice but could also potentially optimize treatment protocols, contributing to improved patient outcomes. Therefore, advancing our understanding of the effectiveness of corticosteroids as the cornerstone of croup management remains an area of paramount scientific and clinical importance.
RESUMO
Using the guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), this meta-analysis (MA) tried to figure out how well creatine (Cr) improves metabolic performance. We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) exploring the various effects of Cr across different age groups compared to a placebo (PLA). We also investigated the synergistic effects of combining other supplements with Cr. In order to emphasize the different ways and sports where Cr has been used in the past years, we found from the selected articles that Cr demonstrated a more pronounced effect during aerobic or anaerobic exercise compared to PLA groups in the studies. Furthermore, in sports that demand significant cumulative energy, such as long-distance races, biking, or triathlons, athletes have observed performance enhancements with Cr supplementation. We also stipulate that Cr enhances resistance training in people over 50 years old and that adding other training supplements, such as ß-hydroxy ß-methylbutyrate (HMB), synergistically improves training outcomes when combined with Cr. The current MA was based on a thorough analysis of 10 separate studies. When these results were added together, we found that taking Cr supplements demonstrated statistically significant benefits over PLA. In conclusion, the present MA has found evidence that Cr has positive effects on metabolic outcomes for people who consume it.
