The conventional therapy group will receive 40mg of oral prednisone daily, while the intervention group will be treated with oral dexamethasone in an equivalent anti-inflammatory dose of 6 mg/day. Glucocorticosteroids will be administered throughout hospitalization and will be continued for 7 days after randomization. Dose changes through this period, as well as subsequent tapering will be on the discretion of the treating physician. All patients will also be treated with short-acting bronchodilators, antibiotics, oxygen, positive pressure non-invasive mechanical ventilation and VTE prophylaxis - based on the GOLD 2013 guidelines and clinical judgment of the attending physicians. An order for low sodium diet will be written. Discharge decisions will be based on the GOLD 2013 discharge criteria list8. Patients will be discharge without steroid tapering regimen unless indicated by clinical judgment. Tapering regimens will include reduction of steroid dose by 5mg every 5 days and by 1mg every 7 days for prednisone and dexamethasone respectively.