When Should Patients Seek Care for Sore Throat?
Authors: Robert M. Centor
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

EditorialsNovember 5, 2013When Should Patients Seek Care for Sore Throat?Robert M. Centor, MDRobert M. Centor, MDFrom University of Alabama at Birmingham, Huntsville, Alabama.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-159-9-201311050-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Fine and colleagues' article in this issue (1) adds an interesting variation on the "sore throat question." Whether to treat or test patients with sore throat continues to generate differing opinions. International guidelines suggest 3 strategies: neither test nor treat anyone, test patients with a substantial probability of group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis and treat those who test positive, or test some patients with a modest probability and empirically treat those with a higher probability (2). To frame Fine and colleagues' article, we will review pharyngitis in adolescents and young adults and the factors to consider before examining, testing, or ...References1. Fine AM, Nizet V, and Mandl KD. Participatory medicine: a home score for streptococcal pharyngitis enabled by real-time biosurveillance. A cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:577-83. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Matthys J, De Meyere M, van Driel ML, and De Sutter A. Differences among international pharyngitis guidelines: not just academic. Ann Fam Med. 2007;5:436-43. [PMID: 17893386] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Mitchell MS, Sorrentino A, and Centor RM. Adolescent pharyngitis: a review of bacterial causes. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2011;50:1091-5. [PMID: 21646249] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Shulman ST, Bisno AL, Clegg HW, Gerber MA, Kaplan EL, Lee G, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: 2012 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55:1279-82. [PMID: 23091044] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Snow V, Mottur-Pilson C, Cooper RJ, and Hoffman JR; American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. Principles of appropriate antibiotic use for acute pharyngitis in adults. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134:506-8 LinkGoogle Scholar6. Zwart S, Sachs AP, Ruijs GJ, Gubbels JW, Hoes AW, and de Melker RA. Penicillin for acute sore throat: randomised double blind trial of seven days versus three days treatment or placebo in adults. BMJ. 2000;320:150-4. [PMID: 10634735] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Zwart S, Rovers MM, de Melker RA, and Hoes AW. Penicillin for acute sore throat in children: randomised, double blind trial. BMJ. 2003;327:1324. [PMID: 14656841] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Del Mar CB, Glasziou PP, and Spinks AB. Antibiotics for sore throat. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;:CD000023. [PMID: 17054126] MedlineGoogle Scholar9. Clancy CM, Centor RM, Campbell MS, and Dalton HP. Rational decision making based on history: adult sore throats. J Gen Intern Med. 1988;3:213-7. [PMID: 3288726] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Linder JA, Chan JC, and Bates DW. Evaluation and treatment of pharyngitis in primary care practice: the difference between guidelines is largely academic. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1374-9. [PMID: 16832002] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Centor RM, Allison JJ, and Cohen SJ. Pharyngitis management: defining the controversy. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22:127-30. [PMID: 17351852] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Alabama at Birmingham, Huntsville, Alabama.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-2176.Corresponding Author: Robert M. Centor, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 301 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801; e-mail, [email protected]. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoStreptococcal Pharyngitis in Adults: Can It Be Efficiently and Effectively Managed by Remote Control? Edward L. Kaplan Participatory Medicine: A Home Score for Streptococcal Pharyngitis Enabled by Real-Time Biosurveillance Andrew M. Fine , Victor Nizet , and Kenneth D. Mandl Metrics Cited ByParticipatory Medicine: A Home Score for Streptococcal PharyngitisJan Matthys, MD and Marc De Meyere, MD November 5, 2013Volume 159, Issue 9Page: 636-637KeywordsAdolescentsAntibioticsDecision makingFeversForecastingFusobacterium necrophorumInfectious diseasesOutpatient clinicsPenicillinPeritonsillar abscessesPharyngitisPharynxPrevention, policy, and public healthRheumatic feverSpecificityStreptococcal pharyngitisSwallowingSweatYoung adults ePublished: 5 November 2013 Issue Published: November 5, 2013 CopyrightCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...