Comparison 2. Malaise.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
2.1 Number of participants with malaise on days 3 to 6: delayed versus immediate antibiotics	2		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1.1 Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	1	229	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	16.49 [5.68, 47.83]
2.1.2 Delayed (prescription collection) versus immediate antibiotics	1	285	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.62 [1.44, 4.76]
2.1.3 Delayed (all strategies) versus immediate antibiotics	2	514	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	6.23 [0.99, 39.09]
2.2 Malaise severity on day 3: delayed versus immediate antibiotics	2	796	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.29 [0.15, 0.43]
2.2.1 Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	1	114	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.24 [‐0.13, 0.60]
2.2.2 Delayed (prescription collection) versus immediate antibiotics	1	284	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.31 [0.07, 0.54]
2.2.3 Delayed (both strategies) versus immediate antibiotics	2	398	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.29 [0.09, 0.48]
2.3 Duration of malaise: delayed versus immediate antibiotics	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.3.1 Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	2	493	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.38 [‐0.56, 1.32]
2.3.2 Delayed (prescription collection) versus immediate antibiotics	1	201	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.00 [0.23, 3.77]
2.4 Duration of malaise: delayed versus no antibiotics	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.4.1 Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus no antibiotics	2	485	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.09 [‐3.12, 0.95]
2.4.2 Delayed (prescription collection) versus no antibiotics	1	199	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.50 [‐3.46, 0.46]