 A triage Nurse identified and recorded children aged 2- 59 months who presented with a history of cough, difficult breathing, or fast breathing tachypnea in the Assessment Center of Mulago Hospital. Children aged 2-11 months with a respiratory rate50 breaths per minute and those aged 12-59 months with a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute were enrolled into the study following informed consent from parentscaretakers. Clinical history included the patients detailed record of the illness, previous medical history and antibiotic use in the current illness. The IMCI approach was particularly employed during history taking and examination. The Principle Investigator and the research assistant interviewed the caretakers using a structured questionnaire. 5 mls of blood was drawn from the ante cubital fossa for a complete blood count and blood cultures.In addition thin and thick blood smears for malaria parasites were taken using finger prick blood samples. Rapid HIV antibody test was done to determine the HIV serostatus of the children. Children less than 18 months with a positive antibody test were referred to the Paediatric Infectious Disease Clinic PIDC Mulago Hospital for a DNA-PCR test to confirm their HIV infection status. Study participants were placed in a well aerated room and subjected to sputum induction. The principal investigator, with the help of the research assistant and a nurse performed the procedure. 