Duration of Acute Respiratory Infection Symptoms in Otherwise Healthy Children

How long should we expect symptoms to persist in children who have acute respiratory tract infections? In this systematic review, investigators reviewed 23 trials and 25 observational studies to determine symptom durations of common acute respiratory tract infections in otherwise healthy children (age range, birth to 18 years). Eligible studies involved children who presented to primary care or emergency departments with acute earaches (acute otitis media), sore throats (pharyngitis or tonsillitis), coughs (bronchitis, bronchiolitis, or croup), common colds, or nonspecific upper respiratory infections and provided data on time to resolution of symptoms. Only data from placebo or no treatment groups were used.

For 90% of children, croup resol…