Assessment of surveillance predictors for suspected respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in children aged <5 years in Madagascar

•A sensitive surveillance case definition can be defined based on specific symptoms.•Intercostal recession and dyspnoea may be used to identify children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.•Fever was not necessarily a good predictor of paediatric RSV infection.•Headache may be used to identify influenza infection in children.•Sweats and productive cough may define infection due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in children.