Comparison 1. Pain: delayed versus immediate antibiotics.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 Number of participants with pain on Days 3 to 6	4		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
1.2 Pain severity on Day 3	2	327	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.35 [0.13, 0.57]
1.3 Duration of malaise	1	294	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐0.86, 1.06]
1.4 Duration of pain symptoms	1	588	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.44 [‐1.17, 0.29]
1.4.1 Pharyngitis	1	294	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.20 [‐1.21, 0.81]
1.4.2 Acute otitis media	1	294	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐1.76, 0.36]