What do systematic reviews say?

Chest physiotherapy vs no chest physiotherapy

Chest physiotherapy showed no clear difference in duration of hospital stay (days) ( compared with no chest physiotherapy (low certainty).

• Chest physiotherapy for pneumonia in children 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.1
  4 studies · 415 participants
  Low

NSAIDs vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, alone or combined, for pain relief in acute… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

NSAIDs vs paracetamol

It is very uncertain whether NSAIDs changes to 7 days compared with paracetamol (very low certainty).

• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, alone or combined, for pain relief in acute… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.74 [0.17, 3.23]
  2 studies · 38 participants
  Very low

Paracetamol vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, alone or combined, for pain relief in acute… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

• Vitamin A for treating measles in children 2005 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 278 participants
  Moderate

Palivizumab vs Placebo, no intervention or usual care (with or without placebo)

Palivizumab leads to lower number of wheezing days compared with placebo, no intervention or standard care (high certainty).

• Palivizumab for preventing severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.39 [0.35, 0.44]
  1 study · 429 participants
  High

Point‐of‐care biomarkers (procalcitonin) for infection vs usual care

• Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory infections in… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 277 participants
  GRADE not reported

Point‐of‐care biomarkers (C‐reactive protein) for infection vs usual care

• Biomarkers as point‐of‐care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in people with acute respiratory infections in… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 7737 participants
  Low

Homeopathic medicinal products vs placebo or usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Homeopathic medicinal products for preventing and treating acute respiratory tract infections in children 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Homeopathic medicinal products (individualised treatment) vs placebo or usual care

Homeopathic medicinal products (individualised treatment) showed no clear difference in days off work for parents compared with placebo or usual care (moderate certainty).

• Homeopathic medicinal products for preventing and treating acute respiratory tract infections in children 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.46 [0.83, 2.55]
  1 study · 199 participants
  Moderate

Homeopathic medicinal products (non‐individualised treatment) vs placebo or usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Homeopathic medicinal products for preventing and treating acute respiratory tract infections in children 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Probiotics vs control

• Probiotics for preventing ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 396 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Vitamin A for treating measles in children 2005 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 149 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics leads to lower pain ‐ pain at 2 to 3 days compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.71 [0.58, 0.88]
  7 studies · 2320 participants
  High

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics showed no clear difference in pain ‐ pain at 4 to 7 days compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76 [0.5, 1.14]
  7 studies · 1264 participants
  High

Immediate antibiotics vs expectant observation

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

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

Immediate antibiotics vs expectant observation

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

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

Antibiotics (short duration) vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used

• Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 431 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Surfactant therapy for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 79 participants
  Moderate

Immediate antibiotics vs expectant observation

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

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