Comparison 1. Anaesthetic versus placebo.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 50% reduction in ear pain	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 10 minutes after instillation	2	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.13 [1.19, 3.80]
1.2 20 minutes after instillation	2	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.24 [0.88, 1.74]
1.3 30 minutes after instillation	2	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.43 [1.12, 1.81]
2 25% reduction in ear pain	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 10 minutes after instillation	2	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.51 [1.06, 2.15]
2.2 20 minutes after instillation	2	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.34 [1.04, 1.71]
2.3 30 minutes after instillation	2	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.34 [1.12, 1.61]