title: Group A streptococcal infection in an aboriginal community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether group A streptococcal infection and poststreptococcal sequelae are still a significant health issue for Aboriginal communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of streptococcal carriage, infection and antibody levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A north Queensland Aboriginal community.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty preschool and school-aged children (2 to 12 years of age) living in the Lockhart River Community on Cape York Peninsula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pyoderma was present in 43% of the children and in 76% of these culture of skin lesions grew group A streptococci. Group A streptococci also grew from 13% of throat swabs, making a total of 36% of children culture positive. Anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNAase B levels were remarkably high and increased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence presented confirms a high level of group A streptococcal carriage and infection in children of the Lockhart River Community. Further investigation of this problem is warranted in other Aboriginal communities with a view to instituting appropriate control programs.
authors: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD.
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Nimmo
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Tinniswood
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Nuttall
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Baker
authors: B
authors: B
authors: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000989:Antistreptolysin / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011711:Pyoderma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
chemical_list: D000989:Antistreptolysin