Abstract
Background/Objectives: With the advent of the field of pediatric emergency medicine, studies on the differences in treatment patterns between pediatricians and emergency medicine (EM) physicians in various pediatric conditions have been accumulating. This study aimed to compare croup (acute laryngotracheobronchitis) management patterns between pediatricians and EM physicians to enhance pediatric emergency care and inform the training of future specialists. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for 1676 previously healthy children diagnosed with croup who visited a single pediatric emergency department (PED) of a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in South Korea, from March 2019 to February 2023. Patient characteristics, management patterns, and the impact of physician specialty on emergency care were analyzed. Results: EM physicians used injected dexamethasone monotherapy in 30.54% of the cases, more frequently than the 3.57% among pediatricians. In contrast, pediatricians used a combination of nebulized epinephrine and dexamethasone in 88.29% of the cases, compared with 67.71% for EM physicians. The appropriate use of nebulized epinephrine based on the Westley Croup Score was significantly higher in the EM physician group (77.64% vs. 57.89%, p < 0.001). Pediatricians also prescribed oral antibiotics and corticosteroids more frequently (25.13% vs. 3.13% and 81.54% vs. 22.69%, respectively; p < 0.001 for both). Despite these differences, there were no significant disparities in PED length of stay or 48 h revisit rates. Conclusions: EM physicians adhered more closely to currently accepted management algorithms for croup management. These findings underscore the need for standardized, evidence-based pediatric emergency care and provide valuable insights for training programs in this field.