Streptococcal pharyngitis-tonsillitis in Swiss children. Diagnosis and management

In a prospective study, during a period of 1 year, 1,116 children over 1 year of age, with acute pharyngitis-tonsillitis, were examined by a group of Swiss pediatricians. Throat swabs were cultured for the presence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and treatment was withheld pending results in most cases. The throat swab cultures were positive in 29.6% of the cases. There were no incidences of acute glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatic fever or severe purulent local complications. The findings confirm the recommendations in the American literature concerning clinic, diagnosis and management, and they can be applied in Switzerland.