Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria including clinical case definitions [14]

Inclusion

Criteria (cases)

Moderate pneumonia

Presence of all three symptoms and signs:

• cough

• tachypnoea rate (≥60/min if <2 months, ≥40/min if ≥2 mo of age)

• lower chest wall indrawing

Severe pneumonia

Moderate pneumonia with one of the following added features:

• pulse >160/min with hepatomegaly >2 cm below costal margin

• cyanosed or restless

• inability to breastfeed/drink or vomiting.

Suspected meningitis

Defined by the presence of fever (>37.5 °C) and one of the following additional features:

• seizures

• impaired or altered consciousness

• irritability

• a bulging fontanelle

• signs of meningeal irritation (e.g. neck stiffness, Kernig’s sign).

The following children were excluded from enrolment as cases:

• age ≥ 5 years

• severe congenital abnormality

• hospitalisation in preceding 14 days

• previous enrolment as either case or control in the study within 30 days

• parent unable or unwilling to give consent

The following children were excluded from enrolment as controls

• age ≥ 5 years

• symptoms or signs of active infection including cough, tachypnoea, lower chest wall indrawing, fever (>37.5 °C), altered consciousness, drowsy or “staring eyes”, irritability, bulging fontanelle and neck stiffness or signs of meningeal irritation

• severe congenital abnormality

• hospitalization in preceding 14 days

• previous enrolment in the study as a control^a

• exposed to antibiotics in the past 30 days

• parent unable or unwilling to give consent