Dr. Arnold assisted in designing and initiating study for a pharmacology PhD candidate. The candidate left the institution and study enrollment was terminated.

Study of the palatability and acceptability of dexamethasone oral tablets crushed and placed in apple sauce or pudding in comparison with the IV solution mixed with sugar syrup and given orally. It is hypothesized that dexamethasone tablets crushed and administered in apple sauce or pudding will be more palatable and acceptable for pediatric patients receiving dexamethasone for an acute asthma exacerbation or croup.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of acute asthma exacerbation or croup (laryngotracheitis) in the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Emergency Department
• Age 1 to 7 years
• Dexamethasone treatment indicated
• No other acute or chronic process accounting for signs and symptoms (e.g., foreign body aspiration, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis)
• Have not received systemic corticosteroid for current episode prior to enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to dexamethasone or apple sauce and pudding
• Unable to take medication orally

Time of randomization up to one hour after last dose of treatment

Adverse event information was collected for any untoward or unfavorable medical occurrence in a participant, including any abnormal sign (for example, abnormal physical exam or laboratory finding), symptom, or disease, temporally associated with the participant's participation in the research, whether or not considered related to the participant's participation in the research.