Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for cases and controls

Age 18 or over

Pre-admission diagnosis of terminal illness (e.g. metastatic malignancy, terminal AIDS)

Age 18 or over

Pre-existing diagnosis of terminal illness (e.g. metastatic malignancy, terminal AIDS)

Lives in Blantyre city

Current anti-TB treatment or evidence of current TB infection

Lives in Blantyre city

Current anti-TB treatment or evidence of current TB infection

Reported cough or chest pain or breathlessness or haemoptysis

Prior hospitalisation within the last 4 weeks

Hospitalisation for a pneumonia-like illness in the past 4 months or current pneumonia-like illness

Reported fever or recorded fever (≥38 °C)

Prior participation in the study

Prior participation in the study

Crepitations or pleural rub or bronchial breathing or clinical features of pleural effusion

Lives in a residential institution (eg. prison)

Lives in a residential institution (eg. prison)

Radiological changes judged to be new and consistent with pneumonia, without another obvious cause

Death prior to follow up assessment

Death prior to follow up assessment

Requires hospitalisation

Alternative diagnosis explaining their presentation

Utilises private health care facilities if has illness requiring hospitalisation

Symptoms for 14 days or more