Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

5 questions · 5 findings · 1 reviews · Acute Respiratory Infections

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 2 · 40%Moderate 2 · 40%High 1 · 20%

Pain ‐ Pain at 11 to 14 days · children with acute otitis media

Immediate antibiotics showed no clear difference in pain ‐ Pain at 11 to 14 days compared with expectant observation (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.91 [0.75, 1.1]
1 study · 247 participants
Low

Vomiting, diarrhoea or rash · children with acute otitis media

Immediate antibiotics leads to higher vomiting, diarrhoea or rash compared with expectant observation (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 1.87 [1.39, 2.51]
3 studies · 946 participants
High

Abnormal tympanometry ‐ 1 month · children with acute otitis media

Immediate antibiotics showed no clear difference in abnormal tympanometry at 4 weeks compared with expectant observation (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 1.03 [0.78, 1.35]
1 study · 207 participants
Moderate

Pain ‐ pain at 2 to 3 days · children with acute otitis media

Immediate antibiotics may leads to lower pain ‐ Pain at 2 to 3 days compared with expectant observation (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.53 [0.35, 0.79]
1 study · 396 participants
Low

Pain ‐ Pain at 3 to 7 days · children with acute otitis media

Immediate antibiotics showed no clear difference in pain ‐ Pain at 3 to 7 days compared with expectant observation (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.75 [0.5, 1.12]
4 studies · 959 participants
Moderate