Overview of methods
cough, shortness of breath
LRTI
Full details of all data collection methods have been previously published.Acute LRTI was defined in several previous cohorts and trials as an acute cough as the predominant symptom, judged by the GP to be infective in origin, lasting <21 days, and with other symptoms or signs localising to the lower respiratory tract (shortness of breath, sputum, pain).Where parents and clinicians were willing for children to be randomised, they were randomised to receive amoxicillin 50 mg/ kg per day in divided doses for 7 days, or placebo, using pre-prepared packs randomised using a computer-generated random number by an independent statistician.