TABLE 1 Characteristics of Studies Comparing Corticosteroid Treatment of Bronchiolitis With a Placebo Study Number of Patients Age Range Study Criteria Drug, Route Outcomes Measured§ Treated Control Inclusion* Exclusion Dabbous et al39 22 22 1.5-18 mo ? Methylprednisone, IM LOS, CS, CO2 Springer et al38 25 25 1.5-11 mo PW Hydrocortisone, IV,   then prednisone, PO LOS, CS, PFT Roosevelt et al35 65 53 1-12 mo PW, CCD, ICU Dexamethasone, IM DOS, CS, DO2, O2 Klassen et al37 35 32 1.5-15 mo PW, CCD, SU Dexamethasone, PO LOS, CS, O2 de Boeck et al36 14 15 <24 mo RSV PW, CCD, PI Dexamethasone, IV LOS, CS, O2, PFT van Woensel et al34 20 19 <24 mo RSV SU Prednisolone, PO LOS, CS * RSV indicates only patients with positive RSV laboratory results included. PW indicates previous wheezing; CCD, chronic cardiorespiratory disease; ICU, admitted to intensive care unit; SU, recent corticosteroid use; PI, premature infants. IM indicates intramuscular; IV, intravenous; PO, oral. § CS indicates clinical score; CO2, carbon dioxide retention; PFT, pulmonary function testing; DO2, duration of oxygen therapy; O2, oxygen saturation.