Table 1. Characteristics of randomised children at baseline.

	GP use of CRP (N = 136)	Control (N = 165)
Median age, years (range)	3 (0–11)	2 (0–11)
Female sex, n (%)	65 (47.8)	81 (49.1)
Abnormalities at auscultation, n (%)	71 (50.4)	83 (49.4)
Signs of otitis media acuta, n (%)	13 (9.2)	23 (13.7)
Signs of tonsillitis, n (%)	17 (12.1)	18 (10.7)
Mean temperature, °C	38.2	38.0
Estimated severity of illness by GP, range (mean)	0.3–8.5 (4.0)	0–8.0 (3.8)
Recruited at out-of-hours service	49 (36.0)	49 (29.7)
Low social economic status	4 (2.9)	17 (10.3)