Comparison 3. Fever.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
3.1 Number of participants with fever on days 3 to 6: delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	2	394	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.54, 1.38]
3.2 Fever severity on day 3: delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotic	3	462	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.34 [‐0.33, 1.01]
3.3 Duration of fever: delayed versus immediate antibiotics	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.3.1 Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	1	199	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐1.00, 1.20]
3.3.2 Delayed (prescription collection) versus immediate antibiotics	1	201	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐0.93, 1.13]
3.3.3 Pharyngitis: Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	1	294	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.40 [‐0.51, 1.31]
3.4 Duration of fever: delayed versus no antibiotics	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.4.1 Delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus no antibiotics	1	197	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.60 [‐3.04, ‐0.16]
3.4.2 Delayed (prescription collection) versus no antibiotics	1	199	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.60 [‐2.99, ‐0.21]
3.4.3 Pharyngitis: delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus no antibiotics	1	288	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.20 [‐1.41, 1.01]