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[Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus frequency in the throat of symptomatic patients younger than 15 years, by age

Ana L Tellechea1, María G Salvo, José H Méndez

  • 1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|December 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) pharyngitis is common in children. Screening for GABHS is recommended for children aged 3-4 years due to high prevalence, while younger children require individualized assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Context:

  • Acute pharyngitis frequently presents in pediatric consultations.
  • Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) is the primary bacterial cause.
  • GABHS screening in children under 5 is debated due to historically low reported frequencies, though recent estimates suggest a 24% prevalence.

Purpose:

  • To estimate the frequency of GABHS in symptomatic children under 15 years old.
  • To evaluate the prevalence of GABHS in throat cultures from pediatric patients.
  • To inform screening guidelines for pediatric GABHS pharyngitis.

Summary:

  • A retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed 6691 throat cultures from 2010.
  • GABHS prevalence peaked in children aged 5-11 years.
  • A 36% frequency was observed in 3- and 4-year-olds, supporting mandatory screening in this age group.

Impact:

  • Findings suggest GABHS screening is warranted for children aged 3-4 years, similar to older children.
  • For children younger than 3, individualized epidemiological assessment is advised before diagnostic testing.
  • This study contributes to optimizing diagnostic strategies for pediatric pharyngitis.

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