Table 7.
Summary of findings: alternating therapy vs. single agent.
| Outcomes | Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | N of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk with single agent | Risk with alternating | ||||
| Proportion remaining febrile—Hour 4 | Study population | RR 0.33 (0.07 to 1.43) | 511 (2 RCTs) |
 LOW |
|
| 245 per 1.000 | 81 per 1.000 (17 to 350) | ||||
| Proportion remaining febrile—Hour 6 | Study population | RR 0.30 (0.15 to 0.57) | 580 (3 RCTs) |
LOW |
|
| 185 per 1.000 | 55 per 1.000 (28 to 105) | ||||
| NCCPC score—Day 1 | NCCPC score—Day 1 ranged from 5.72 to 11.77 | MD 1.32 lower (2.47 lower to 0.17 lower) | - | 1246 (2 RCTs) |
 VERY LOW |
| NCCPC score—Day 2 | NCCPC score—Day 2 ranged from 8.83 to 8.87 | MD 3.76 lower (4.18 lower to 3.34 lower) | - | 619 (1 RCT) |
LOW |
| NCCPC score—Day 3 | NCCPC score—Day 3 ranged from 7.66 to 7.96 | MD 3.64 lower (4.08 lower to 3.2 lower) | - | 619 (1 RCT) |
LOW |
| Doses of medication per child—Day 1 | The mean doses of medication per child—Day 1 ranged from 2.78 to 4.33 | MD 0.44 lower (1.34 lower to 0.47 higher) | - | 1246 (2 RCTs) |
VERY LOW |
| Doses of medication per child—Day 2 | The mean doses of medication per child—Day 2 ranged from 2.92 to 3.84 | MD 1.39 lower (2.29 lower to 0.49 lower) | - | 619 (1 RCT) |
LOW |
| Doses of medication per child—Day 3 | The mean doses of medication per child—Day 3 ranged from 2.84 to 2.9 | MD 1.38 lower (1.49 lower to 1.28 lower) | - | 619 (1 RCT) |
LOW |
*
The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI, Confidence interval; RR, Risk ratio; OR. Odds ratio; RCT, Randomized Controlled Trial.