| Methods |
Single‐blind study. The outcome was determined blind on follow‐up by physicians who did not know what treatment type each participant had received |
| Participants |
1602 young adult males recruited into United States Air Force |
| Interventions |
Intramuscular penicillin for 4 days or no treatment as a control group |
| Outcomes |
Incidence of rheumatic fever only |
| Notes |
Antipyretic use was not stated |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Participants randomised by Air Force serial number |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
High risk |
|
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Single blind study ‐ assessment was conducted by physicians who were unaware of treatment condition |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
|
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
Antipyretic use was not stated |
