Clinical features of Group A Beta Hemolytic Strep Pharyngitis

1. unusual before three years of age and greatest between 5-15
2. Sore throat-usually sudden onset
3. Fever
4. Abdominal pain/vomiting
5. Absence of runny nose, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and cough
6. More frequent in late winter and spring, uncommon in summer
7. transmitted by oral and nasal secretions 

1. red pharynx with exudate on tonsils and petechiae on soft palate
2. bilateral tender anterior cervical adenopathy
3. Scarlet Fever- sandpapery red rash that is primarily on the trunk.  There is circum- oral pallor and a strawberry tongue.  There may be Pasita lines in the antecubital fossa area.   May be accentuated in the underpants area. Can be pruritic and will often peel at the end of the illness. Patients with scarlet fever are not sicker than others without rash.
4. Sensitive and specificity not high enough to make the diagnosis without culture confirmation.

1. Adenovirus
2. EBV
3. HSV
4. Influenza and Parainfluenza
5. Enteroviruses

1. Chlamydia- benefit of antibioitcs not proven
2. M. pneumonia- benefit of antibiotics not proven
3. N. gonorrhea
4. Group C and G Streptococcus- self limited and not associated with the development of rheumatic fever.

1. Because symptoms and physical findings are not reliable to make the diagnosis of strep pharyngitis, throat culture or antigen detection test must be performed,  Throat culture on sheep blood agar and incubate for 24 hours. The throat culture is 90-95% sensitive. Technique is important and must get the posterior pharynx and avoid the uvula and soft palate  The number of colonies on sheep blood agar is not important. A bacitracin disc will differentiate GABS from non Group A. Also may do a rapid strep test which is less sensitive(80-90%) and as specific(95%) as the throat culture. If rapid test is positive treatment may be initiated. If negative, you must plate a throat culture. It is suggested to do two swabs at one time so that if the rapid test is negative, you don't have to swab the throat again. 
2. It is not necessary to culture contacts unless they are symptomatic
3. All suspected streptococcal pharyngitis patients must be cultured or have a + rapid strep test prior to starting antibiotic treatment.
4. It is imperative to only culture appropriate patients to avoid picking up the 10% of the population that are "carriers" of strep. These are patients that have GABHS in heir throats without clinical symptoms and a serologic response. Also, are patients that have persistent positive throat cultures following adequate treatment with antibiotics. The patient is clinically well. These patients are not contagious and are not at increased risk for Acute Rheumatic Fever. 
5. Reculturing after course of treatment is not recommended.

1. Oral penicillin for 10 days or LA Bicillin IM.
2. If penicillin allergy. , erythromycin po  There has been an increased of erythromycin resistance with the increased use of macrolides. The incidence decreased with their withdrawal from treatment regimens 
3. Treatment for carrier state if there is a family member with ARF, parental anxiety(strep neurosis), ping pong spread of strep infections, or patient is considering tonsillectomy for recurrent positive cultures. Treatment is oral rifampin during the last 4 days of oral course of penicillin, oral rifampin with LA bicillin, cephalosporins, or oral clindamycin.
4. Patients are not contagious 24 hours after starting therapy and may return to school

1. Acute rheumatic fever may be prevented treatment of the strep pharyngitis within 10 days of onset of symptoms. Acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritisis not prevented by therapy
2. Peritonsillar abscesses.

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