Bernard 1999.

Methods	RCT, 13/59 withdrawals
Participants	USA: 59 children, aged 1 to 10 years, with cough 1 to 14 days (median 4 days), respiratory rate less than 35 and normal lung exam
Interventions	Albuterol syrup (0.1 mg/kg to max dose of 2 mg every 8 hours) (N = 30); versus placebo syrup (N = 29) for 7 days
Outcomes	Daily cough impact score, number with complete resolution of cough at trial end; number with daily cough; number with hyperactivity or shaking
Notes	Prohibited codeine, dextromethorphan, antihistamines, OTC cough preparations; 27% of albuterol group and 38% of placebo group treated with antibiotics for co‐existing otitis media Study medication was provided by a pharmaceutical company
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Participants were described as "randomized in blocks of 4" but no details were provided about the method of sequence generation
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	"Investigators ... were blinded to group assignment until the trial was completed"
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Participants and personnel were described as blinded, but no details were provided about the methods used. Children receiving the active treatment were more likely to develop shaking (a known side effect of the intervention), so it is possible that study personnel, parents, or care providers may have become aware of the treatment assignment in some cases. Outcome assessment was done with a telephone interview asking parents to assess symptoms
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Dropout rates were provided and an ITT analysis was carried out
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	No positive outcomes were reported