The outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality among children hospitalized with LRTI. As potential predictors of mortality, we considered the following classes of variables: Demographics, medical history, history of present illness, signs on physical exam, growth standards, chest radiography, and C-reactive protein levels. Information on these variables was collected by study physicians on a standardized case report form when a child was hospitalized. Subjective information on symptoms occurring prior to hospitalization was obtained from the child's caregiver at the time of hospitalization.
For this analysis, age was categorized based on IMCI categories: 6 weeks–2 months, 3–12 months, and 12–23 months. Children were considered to have low oxygen saturation if a pulse oximetry reading on room air was ≤90%. Three growth standards were also evaluated: weight for age, weight for length, and length for age, categorized based on the WHO z-scores [13] . Tables of growth standards were accessed at:http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/ . Chest radiographs were evaluated independently by a pediatrician and a radiologist. C-reactive protein levels were categorized as >40 mg/L or ≤40 mg/L, which may indicate bacterial pneumonia [14] (link). For children with HIV infection, the clinical classification of HIV disease without CD4 count was recorded using the CDC categories – N (asymptomatic), A (mildly symptomatic), B (moderately symptomatic), C (severely symptomatic, AIDS-defining) [15] .
For this analysis, age was categorized based on IMCI categories: 6 weeks–2 months, 3–12 months, and 12–23 months. Children were considered to have low oxygen saturation if a pulse oximetry reading on room air was ≤90%. Three growth standards were also evaluated: weight for age, weight for length, and length for age, categorized based on the WHO z-scores [13] . Tables of growth standards were accessed at:
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