Smriti Chauhan1, Nitin Kashyap2, Anil Kanga3, Kamlesh Thakur4, Anuradha Sood4, Lata Chandel4. 1. Department of Microbiology, Dr RPG Medical College, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), India drsmriti123@gmail.com drsmriti123@gmail.com. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dr RPG Medical College, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), India. 3. Department of Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), India. 4. Department of Microbiology, Dr RPG Medical College, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the commonest bacterial cause of pharyngitis. Children in the age group of 5-15 years are most commonly affected. It can also colonize throats of healthy children in this age group. Both cases and carriers can transmit it in the community. METHODS: Throat swab samples were collected from 1849 asymptomatic and 371 symptomatic children. RESULTS: The rate of isolation of GAS was 1.41% among the asymptomatic group and 7.55% among the symptomatic group. Nine different emm types were encountered in the asymptomatic children and 14 among the symptomatic children. CONCLUSION: Throat swab cultures must be used in all cases of pharyngitis. Early and appropriate antibiotic therapy will prevent complications. Asymptomatic throat carriage of GAS in children was low in our study. However, they can still act as reservoirs. Emm typing helps in understanding epidemiology and finding new types.
BACKGROUND:Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the commonest bacterial cause of pharyngitis. Children in the age group of 5-15 years are most commonly affected. It can also colonize throats of healthy children in this age group. Both cases and carriers can transmit it in the community. METHODS: Throat swab samples were collected from 1849 asymptomatic and 371 symptomatic children. RESULTS: The rate of isolation of GAS was 1.41% among the asymptomatic group and 7.55% among the symptomatic group. Nine different emm types were encountered in the asymptomatic children and 14 among the symptomatic children. CONCLUSION: Throat swab cultures must be used in all cases of pharyngitis. Early and appropriate antibiotic therapy will prevent complications. Asymptomatic throat carriage of GAS in children was low in our study. However, they can still act as reservoirs. Emm typing helps in understanding epidemiology and finding new types.
Authors: S P Dumre; K Sapkota; N Adhikari; D Acharya; M Karki; S Bista; S R Basanyat; S K Joshi Journal: Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) Date: 2009 Oct-Dec