title: Subclinical group A streptococcal throat infection in school children.
abstract: Seven hundred and forty nine apparently healthy school children aged 5-15 years were investigated for throat infection with Group A streptococci (GAS) during December 1990 to May 1991. The prevalence of beta hemolytic streptococci (BHS) was 18.8%; most organisms belonged to Group A streptococci (13.7%). The prevalence of BHS in throat was significantly higher (p < .001) in girls as compared to boys. Immune response to extracellular antigens was studied in 53 children who had GAS strain in their throat, 54.7% had elevated titers of antistreptolysin O or antideoxyribonuclease B or both indicating subclinical infection with GAS. Thus it is recommended that serological examinations should be done along with throat culture to identify subclinical Group A streptococcal throat infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kapoor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes