How Well Do Viral Symptoms Predict the Absence of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis?

Three specific demographic and clinical features identify a group at low risk for infection with group A streptococcus.

Differentiating pharyngitis caused by group A β-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) from that caused by a virus can be challenging as symptoms can overlap. Also, up to 20% of children are GAS carriers, making it difficult to distinguish true infection from colonization.

Reviewing electronic health records from just over 67,000 patients aged 3 to 21 years with a chief complaint of sore throat and rapid GAS results available, researchers compared clinical characteristics, specifically viral symptoms (rhinorrhea, cough, and hoarseness) between children testing positive vs. negative. Low risk for GAS was defined as <15%. Results included the following:

Overall, 32.6% tested positive for GAS (27.5% by rapid testing), and this was significantly higher in…

Reviewing Author

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

How Well Do Viral Symptoms Predict the Absence of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis?

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Reviewing Author