The Diagnosis of Streptococcal Pharyngitis
Authors: ALAN L. BISNO
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1979)

Editorials1 March 1979The Diagnosis of Streptococcal PharyngitisALAN L. BISNO, M.D.ALAN L. BISNO, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-90-3-426 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSimple sore throat is one of the commonest maladies with which primary care physicians have to deal. Despite the multiplicity of potential etiologic agents (for example, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae), the differential diagnosis almost always comes down to one seemingly simple question: Is this a viral pharyngitis or a "strep throat"? The former ordinarily merits symptomatic therapy only, while the latter should be treated with penicillin for at least 10 days to prevent the development of acute rheumatic fever.Unfortunately, clinical acumen alone does not suffice to differentiate viral from group A streptococcal sore throat consistently enough to...References1. SIEGELJOHNSONSTOLLERMAN AEG: Controlled studies of streptococcal pharyngitis in a pediatric population. I. Factors related to the attack rate of rheumatic fever. N Engl J Med 265:559-566, 1961 CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. KAPLANTOPDUDDINGWANNAMAKER EFBL: Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis: differentiation of active infection from the carrier state in the symptomatic child. J Infect Dis 123:490-501, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. : Endemic exudative pharyngitis and tonsillitis. Etiology and clinical characteristics. JAMA 125:1163-1169, 1944 CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. TOMPKINSBURNESCABLE RDW: An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of pharyngitis management and acute rheumatic fever prevention. Ann Intern Med 86:481-492, 1977 LinkGoogle Scholar5. MIYAMOTOTAKIZAWAMATSUSHIMAASAINAKATSUKA YKAYS: Stepwise acquisition of multiple drug resistance by beta-hemolytic streptococci and difference in resistance pattern by type. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 13:399-404, 1978 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. KAPLAN E: Unresolved problems in diagnosis and epidemiology of streptococcal infection, in Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases: Recognition, Understanding, and Management, edited by WANNAMAKER LW, MATSEN JM. New York, Academic Press, 1972, pp. 557-570 Google Scholar7. BREESEDISNEYTALPEYGREEN BFWJ: Beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. The clinical and epidemiologic importance of the number of organisms found in cultures. Am J Dis Child 119:18-26, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. BISNOOFEK AI: Serologic diagnosis of streptococcal infection. Comparison of a rapid hemagglutination technique with conventional antibody tests. Am J Dis Child 127:676-681, 1974 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. HEDGESWAGNER JD: Pharyngeal gram stains in the treatment of sore throats. JACEP 7:229-232, 1978 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByRapid Throat-culture as Diagnostic Aid: Ineffective in Decreasing Antibiotic PrescriptionsThe Diagnostic Value of Symptoms and Signs in Acute Tonsillitis in Children over the Age of 10 and in AdultsRapid identification ofStreptococcus pyogenes by flow cytometryOffice MicrobiologyStreptococcal PharyngitisThe Diagnosis of Strep Throat in Adults in the Emergency RoomDirect Microscopic Examination of SpecimensStreptococcal PharyngitisRICHARD K. TOMPKINS, M.D. 1 March 1979Volume 90, Issue 3Page: 426-428KeywordsHyperthermiaMycoplasma pneumoniaeNeisseria gonorrhoeaePenicillinPharyngitisPharynxPrimary care physiciansRheumatic feverStreptococcal pharyngitis Issue Published: 1 March 1979 PDF DownloadLoading ...