| Methods |
Double‐blind, randomised, placebo‐controlled trial |
| Participants |
24 participants
Eligibility criteria: at initial interview symptoms and physical findings of glandular fever (does not specific what these are) plus laboratory findings of white cell differential count showing the lymphocytes to compromise 50% of more of the total count with atypical lymphocytes being noted. In addition a repeat blood test 72 to 96 hours later having similar results or a heterophil titre in excess of a 1:56 dilution. The authors state that as the study progressed the 'mono test' (not clear what this refers to) became available and was also performed at the initial visit |
| Interventions |
Intervention: oral corticosteroids, either prednisolone, prednisolone or cortisone. The intake equalled 10 mg starting dose of steroid tapered over 8 days
Control: placebo |
| Outcomes |
Duration of sore throat |
| Notes |
— |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
"Randomisation code" |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Randomisation code held by pharmaceutical company |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Physician and participant |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
— |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
— |
| Other bias |
Unclear risk |
— |
