Participants
confusion, tuberculosis, cough, agitation, allergies, respiratory distress
TUBERCULOSIS, ALLERGIES
We introduced the study to adults presenting to either Limbe or Ndirande Health Centres in Blantyre, Malawi, by first inviting all participants with a cough to a brief talk, and then conducted a detailed eligibility screen for those who expressed interest. We included patients who were aged at least 18 years, who had a cough, who reported being unwell for at least 14 days, and who did not have any danger signs (respiratory rate ≥30 breaths per min, temperature ≥39°C, heart rate ≥120 beats per min, confusion or agitation, respiratory distress, and systolic blood pressure of <90 mm Hg). We excluded patients who reported allergies to study medications, who had taken antibiotics other than co-trimoxazole prophylaxis within the previous 14 days, or had taken tuberculosis drugs either for treatment or prevention within the previous 6 months. To participate, eligible patients provided written (or, if not literate, witnessed thumbprint) informed consent.