Trial of Amoxicillin Compared With Placebo for Pneumonia in Children Aged 2-59 Months

Many children with \"non-severe pneumonia\" (cough and fast breathing) have neither clinical pneumonia as assessed by physicians nor pneumonia on chest radiographs. Inappropriate use of antibiotics for these cases is leading to resistant strains of bacteria in the community. Evidence shows that almost 50% of antibiotic prescription is unnecessary.As over half of antibiotic prescription for ARI are not necessary since most of these infections are viral and do not respond to antibiotic therapy which will be source of resistance in the community. To address this issue the investigators conducted this randomized, double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of oral Amoxicillin versus placebo in children with non-severe pneumonia taking into account all the necessary safety precautions for their well being. The study hypothesis was that the clinical outcome of children 2 to 59 months of age with cough and fast breathing (WHO defined non-severe pneumonia) with or without wheezing is equivalent, whether they are treated with amoxicillin or placebo.