Non-antibiotic treatment v placebo for acute sore throat*
| Treatment | Number of trials (number of patients) | Patient type | Follow up | Relative treatment effect † |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *AB = antibiotics; NSAIDs = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. | ||||
| †Relative decrease in symptom score in intervention group relative to placebo group. | ||||
| Ibuprofen | 3 (118) | Adults | 2 to 6 hours | 32% to 80% |
| 1 (78) | Children | 2 hours | 25% | |
| 1 (153) | Children | 2 days | 56% | |
| Other NSAIDs | 2 (276) | Adults | 1 hour | 55% to 75% |
| 2 (290) | Adults | 2 to 5 days | 17% to 81% | |
| 2 (207) | Children | 2 to 5 days | 14% to 93% | |
| Paracetamol | 1 (81) | Adults | 3 and 6 hours | 50% and 20% |
| 1 (77) | Children | 2 hours | 31% | |
| 1 (154) | Children | 2 days | 34% | |
| Corticosteroid plus AB | 1 (51) | Age 12 to 65 years | 24 hours | 38% |
| Aspirin containing gum | 1 (20) | Adult men | ≤24 hours | 50% |
| Influenza vaccine | 1 (849) | Adults | >24 hours | 25% |
| Pneumococcal vaccine | 1 (405) | Children | 2 years | 18% |
| Supercolonisation with α-streptococcal bacteria | 2 (166) | Age 3 to 59 years | ≤3 months | 42% to 90% |
| Greater attention to patients plus AB | 1 (100) | Age >16 years | 2 days | 40% |
| Benzydamine 0.15% oral rinse | 1 (51) | Age 17 to 74 years | 3 days | 42% |
