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Positive Rate of Tests for Group a Streptococcus and Viral Features in Children with Acute Pharyngitis

Dasom Wi1, Soo-Han Choi2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hwaseong-si 18450, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis is less common in children under 3. Testing for GAS in young children with viral symptoms is often unnecessary, highlighting the need for judicious antibiotic use.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a significant cause of acute pharyngitis in children.
  • Accurate diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis is crucial for appropriate treatment and preventing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the positive rate of GAS tests and the prevalence of clinical viral features in children diagnosed with acute pharyngitis.
  • To assess the GAS positive rate in relation to age and the presence of viral symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of patients under 15 years old with both rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and throat culture results for GAS.
  • Exclusion of patients with influenza or recent antibiotic use.
  • Analysis of GAS positive rates based on age groups and presence of viral features.

Main Results:

  • The overall GAS positive rate was 11.4%.
  • GAS positive rates were significantly lower in children under 3 years old (1.8%) compared to older children (19.4%).
  • The GAS positive rate did not differ significantly between patients with and without viral features.

Conclusions:

  • GAS pharyngitis is less prevalent in very young children (<3 years old).
  • Testing for GAS is frequently performed in young children, often without a clear indication.
  • Judicious use of laboratory testing and antibiotic prescriptions for GAS pharyngitis is recommended.

Keywords:
Streptococcus pyogenespharyngitissigns and symptomstonsilitis

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