Table 1.

 Baseline characteristics of patients randomised to blood slide or rapid diagnostic test. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise

Characteristic	Slide (n=1204)	Rapid test (n=1193)
Median (IQR) age (years)	11.4 (2-30)	7.3 (2-29)
Female	679 (56)	668 (56)
Fever in previous 48 hours	979 (81)	952 (80)
Cough in previous 48 hours	493 (41)	499 (42)
Previous antimalarial drug use in current illness	66 (5.5)	66 (5.5)
Less than eight years' education*	888 (74)	876 (73)
Less than one hour's travel to clinic	698 (58)	685 (57)
Median (IQR) reported days ill	3 (2-4)	3 (2-4)

IQR=interquartile range.

*Patient or patient's mother if patient aged under 15.