Beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis: uncommon in infectious mononucleosis.
Infectious mononucleosis (IM) and beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis may present similar clinical pictures and may occur concurrently; however, recent studies have differed sharply with older ones that cited high rates of concurrent disease. Our study of 100 consecutive new patients meeting strict criteria for a diagnosis of IM found only 4% with positive throat cultures for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci at the time of diagnosis. Use of antibiotics for presumed streptococcal pharyngitis in patients with IM is unjustified. Only patients with positive cultures should be treated.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014768:Virginia