title: Significance of hemolytic streptococci for Nashville school children: clinical and serologic observations.
abstract: The results of this study (1969-1971 confirm previous findings that incidence rates for hemolytic and group A streptococci in Nashville school children fluctuate sporadically. During these two years, there was a significant decrease in streptococcal incidence and in typability of group A streptococci. A positive throat culture was not associated significantly more often with symptoms of an infection of the upper respiratory tract than when symptoms were absent. The larger the number of group A streptococci present in the throat culture, the more likely was a streptococcal antibody increase to occur. Nevertheless, some children with small numbers of group A streptococci had an antibody increase, and the degree of positivity of the throat culture was not a very accurate indication of whether an antibody response would occur. Epidemiologic factors such as age, sex, race, or crowding in the home did not seem to play a highly significant role in rates. Seasonal influences were marked in 1969-1970 but not in 1970-1971. Regarding socioeconomic background, the rates were consistently lower in Clemons school, which serves a predominantly black neighborhood of higher socioeconomic level, than in the other two schools. Our findings confirm that the incidence of acquisition of the hemolytic streptococcus is a continually changing, dynamic process among school children.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013714:Tennessee
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial