Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Symptom severity
Systematic review	697 people 6 RCTs in this analysis	Symptom severity, primarily throat pain 2 to 5 days with NSAIDs with placebo Absolute results not reported	All the RCTs found that NSAIDs significantly reduced symptoms (primarily throat pain) compared with placebo The range of significant improvements in symptoms compared with placebo ranged from 33% to 93% P <0.05 in all RCTs	Effect size not calculated	NSAIDs
RCT	373 adults aged 18 to 75 years with recent-onset sore throat (4 days or less)	Reduction in difficulty swallowing at day 2 with flurbiprofen (n = 186) with placebo (n = 187) Absolute results not reported	P = 0.016	Effect size not calculated	flurbiprofen
RCT	373 adults aged 18 to 75 years with recent-onset sore throat (4 days or less)	Reduction in difficulty swallowing at day 3 with flurbiprofen (n = 186) with placebo (n = 187) Absolute results not reported	P = 0.032	Effect size not calculated	flurbiprofen
RCT	373 adults aged 18 to 75 years with recent-onset sore throat (4 days or less)	Patient satisfaction (felt less distracted, felt less frustrated, felt happier) at day 3 with flurbiprofen (n = 186) with placebo (n = 187) Absolute results not reported	P <0.05	Effect size not calculated	flurbiprofen