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Group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis burden in a tertiary Turkish hospital
Aslinur Ozkaya-Parlakay1, Mutlu Uysal, Ateş Kara
1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. aslinur@hacettepe.edu.tr
Insights
Group A tonsillopharyngitis, a common infection, incurs significant social costs. This study quanties the non-medical expenses associated with pediatric cases, highlighting the economic impact on families.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Acute tonsillopharyngitis is a frequent upper respiratory infection with potential for severe outcomes.
- Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) is the primary bacterial cause in children, affecting 15-30% of pediatric cases.
- The infection imposes a considerable social burden, with non-medical costs comprising nearly one-third of the total expenses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the social cost of group A tonsillopharyngitis in pediatric patients.
- To analyze the non-medical expenditures incurred by families due to this infection.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to parents of 100 children diagnosed with proven group A tonsillopharyngitis.
- Data collected focused on social and non-medical costs associated with the illness.
Main Results:
- The study details the social cost associated with group A tonsillopharyngitis.
- Analysis revealed significant non-medical expenses impacting families.
Conclusions:
- Group A tonsillopharyngitis represents a substantial social and economic burden on families.
- Understanding these costs is crucial for developing comprehensive support strategies.
Abstract:
Acute tonsillopharyngitis is a very common upper respiratory tract infection and might cause serious morbidity and even mortality if not handled properly. Although the etiologic agent is mostly viral, group A beta hemolytic streptococcus is the most important bacterial agent, with a frequency of 15-30% in the pediatric age group. In this article, as the social burden for this infection is notable and almost one-third of costs are estimated to be non-medical, we applied a questionnaire to the parents of 100 proven group A tonsillopharyngitis patients to describe the social cost of this infection.
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