What do systematic reviews say?

Honey vs salbutamol

• Honey for acute cough in children 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 100 participants
  Moderate

Cyclamen europaeum vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Cyclamen europaeum extract for acute sinusitis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Systemic corticosteroids vs placebo

• Systemic corticosteroids for acute otitis media in children 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Procalcitonin algorithm vs usual care

• Procalcitonin to initiate or discontinue antibiotics in acute respiratory tract infections 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  26 studies · 6708 participants
  High

Open thoracotomy vs thoracostomy drainage

• Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 30 participants
  Moderate

VATS vs thoracostomy drainage

• Surgical versus non‐surgical management for pleural empyema 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 231 participants
  Moderate

Xylitol vs control

• Xylitol for preventing acute otitis media in children up to 12 years of age 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Xylitol for preventing acute otitis media in children up to 12 years of age 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Xylitol for preventing acute otitis media in children up to 12 years of age 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Antivirals vs placebo/no treatment

• Antiviral agents for infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 87 participants
  Very low

Resistance and endurance exercise prior to influenza vaccination vs no exercise prior to influenza vaccination

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Exercise prior to influenza vaccination for limiting influenza incidence and its related complications in adults 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo

• Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 96 participants
  Moderate
• Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 95 participants
  Moderate
• Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.89 [0.47, 1.68]
  1 study · 59 participants
  Moderate

Beta‐2 agonists vs placebo

Beta‐2 agonists showed no clear difference in adults: night cough after seven days diary compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Beta2‐agonists for acute cough or a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.84 [0.54, 1.33]
  3 studies · 210 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes clinical cure rates at day 8 ± 1 (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.07 [0.88, 1.31]
  1 study · 93 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes clinical cure rates at day 8 ± 1 (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.09 [0.9, 1.32]
  1 study · 97 participants
  Very low

Normal saline plus standard treatment vs usual care

• Saline nasal irrigation for acute upper respiratory tract infections 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 111 participants
  Very low

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

Antihistamines vs placebo

Antihistamines showed no clear difference in change in severity of overall symptoms: intermediate‐term (3 to 4… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Antihistamines for the common cold 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.19 [0.67, 2.11]
  1 study · 234 participants
  High

Antihistamines vs placebo

Antihistamines showed no clear difference in change in severity of overall symptoms: long‐term (6 to 10 days)… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Antihistamines for the common cold 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.71 [0.41, 1.22]
  3 studies · 1551 participants
  High

Sedating antihistamines vs placebo

Sedating antihistamines leads to lower change in severity of overall symptoms: short‐term (1 to 2 days)… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Antihistamines for the common cold 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.76 [0.61, 0.95]
  2 studies · 1427 participants
  High

Sedating antihistamines vs placebo

Sedating antihistamines showed no clear difference in change in severity of overall symptoms: long‐term (6 to 10 days)… compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Antihistamines for the common cold 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.71 [0.41, 1.22]
  3 studies · 1551 participants
  High