Table 1 Exclusion Criteria

1. Known or clinically recognizable chronic conditions

2. History of > 2 weeks of cough /difficulty in breathing

3. Past history of more than 3 wheezing episodes or physician diagnosed asthma

4. LCI that responds to trial of nebulization

5. Respiratory rate (RR) >70 breaths per minute in calm child

6. Known HIV positive child or HIV status of mother known to be positive and status of child not known/defined.

7. Hospitalization for > 48 h in the last two weeks

8. Measles in the last month

9. Clinically severe malnutrition (weight for length < −3 SD or kwashiorkor) (refer to WHO growth chart)

10. Rickets

11. Central cyanosis

12. Kerosene poisoning within last 48 h

13. Oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) <88 % on room air

14. Abnormally sleepy or difficult to wake

15. Inability to drink

16. Stridor in calm child

17. Convulsions during this illness

18. Known any antibiotic therapy for 48 h or more immediately prior to admission

19. Other diseases requiring antibiotic therapy, e.g. Meningitis, tuberculosis, dysentery, etc.

20. Persistent vomiting (>3 episodes of vomiting within 1 h)

21. Grunting

22. Known prior anaphylactic reaction to penicillin or amoxycillin

23. Severe dehydration according to WHO guidelines

24. Severe pallor

25. Suspected surgical pathology

26. Living out of the follow-up area of the study (30 kms)

27. Subject previously included in the same trial or already included in another ongoing trial anywhere

28. Presence of radiological consolidation / effusion / pneumothorax