Outcome by day three children with otitis
media in according to immediate or delayed treatment with antibiotics.
Figures are numbers (percentage) of
children
Immediate
Delayed
P
value
NNTB (95% CI)
Children
with high temperature or vomiting*
Distress
12 (32)
27 (53)
0.045
5
(2 to 83)
Disturbed nights
10 (26)
30 (59)
0.002
3 (2 to 8)
Children without high temperature or vomiting*
Distress
14 (15)
19 (19)
0.39
22 (7 to to NNTH
17)
Disturbed nights
19 (20)
20 (27)
0.20
13 (5 to
to NNTH 24)
Children with two of three symptoms
on day 1
Distress
11 (39)
22 (55)
0.20
6 (3 to to
NNTH 12)
Disturbed nights
9 (32)
26 (65)
0.008
3 (2 to 10)
NNTB=number needed to treat to benefit; NNTH=number needed to
treat to harm.
*
Temperature as measured on day 1, vomiting on any day.
to NNTH
17)
on day 1