OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of age and season of the year on the carrier rate of beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS) in healthy individuals and patients with throat pain. DESIGN: The prevalence of BHS in throat specimens from healthy individuals was compared with that from patients with throat pain of the same age in a defined geographical area, collected during the same mid-winter and late summer periods. RESULTS: The prevalence of BHS in healthy individuals was low before the age of 3 years (1.9-7.1%) and in adults > or = 16 years (2.4-3.7%) and highest in the age group 3-15 years (5.0-21.2%). The difference in prevalence of BHS between healthy individuals and patients with throat pain was small during the late summer season and large during the mid-winter season. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of BHS varies with age and season in healthy individuals and patients with throat pain. During the summer, it is much more difficult to interpret the result of a throat culture in individuals aged < 16 years.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of age and season of the year on the carrier rate of beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS) in healthy individuals and patients with throat pain. DESIGN: The prevalence of BHS in throat specimens from healthy individuals was compared with that from patients with throat pain of the same age in a defined geographical area, collected during the same mid-winter and late summer periods. RESULTS: The prevalence of BHS in healthy individuals was low before the age of 3 years (1.9-7.1%) and in adults > or = 16 years (2.4-3.7%) and highest in the age group 3-15 years (5.0-21.2%). The difference in prevalence of BHS between healthy individuals and patients with throat pain was small during the late summer season and large during the mid-winter season. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of BHS varies with age and season in healthy individuals and patients with throat pain. During the summer, it is much more difficult to interpret the result of a throat culture in individuals aged < 16 years.
Authors: Malene Plejdrup Hansen; Tammy C Hoffmann; Amanda R McCullough; Mieke L van Driel; Chris B Del Mar Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2015-02-24