Incidence and management of sore throat in general practice

A total of 1051 patients with sore throat were registered by 358 general practitioners (GPs) each participating for one week some time during a one-year study period. Contacts related to emergency medical service work, and contacts by telephone only were also included. The annual incidence of sore throat was estimated to be 100 per 1 000 person years. A bacterial or presumedly bacterial etiology was clinically diagnosed in 64% of the patients, and a viral or presumedly viral etiology in 30% of cases, while for six per cent of the patients, the GP was in doubt as to the etiology. The strategy of management was as follows: nine per cent had a throat swab taken and antibiotics prescribed; 15% were swabbed, and did not receive an immediate prescription; 54% were prescribed antibiotics without being swabbed; and 23% were neither swabbed nor treated with antibiotics. With increasing age of the doctor, increasing frequencies were found regarding the clinical assumption of a bacterial etiology and prescribing of antibiotics, whereas the frequency of obtaining throat swabs decreased. Similar findings were made when the type of contact was home visit as opposed to contact at the surgery.