Frequency, Pathogen Spectrum and Specific Immune Response in Acute Pharyngotonsillitis in Children and Adolescents

According to the US Vital Health Statistics report, acute pharyngotonsillitis is responsible for more than 6 million office visits each year by children younger than 15 years of age. Approximately 30% of cases is of bacterial etiology and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci(GABHS) are responsible for most bacterial cases, although other pathogens, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae, may be the causative agents in sporadic cases. An accurate diagnosis of GABHS infection is important because it is the only common form of acute pharyngotonsillitis for which antibiotic therapy is definitely indicated. Effective antibacterial treatment can shorten the clinical course of GABHS pharyngotonsillitis, reduce the rate of transmission, and prevent suppurative and nonsuppurative complications, such as peritonsillar abscess and acute rheumatic fever.

This study enrolls patients who will present with acute fever and clinical signs of pharyngotonsillitis at three primary pediatric ambulances. A rapid A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS)-detection test will be performed in these patients. In one office, additional throat cultures are obtained of all patients, and blood is taken in a subgroup of 60 GABHS-positive and 60 GABHS-negative cases. In GABHS-positive patients, a second blood sample will be obtained at day 7th and day 28th, and stored until specific antibody response to GABHS will be measured.