Enteroviral pharyngitis diagnosed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
The role of enteroviruses in childhood pharyngitis was investigated using enteroviral specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Viral/bacterial throat swabs were taken from 50 children with acute pharyngitis and 26 controls. A positive culture was identified in only 26% of children with pharyngitis (adenovirus 10%, group A streptococci 2%), and none of the controls. Enteroviral RT-PCR was positive in 8% of the pharyngitis group and none of the controls. Enteroviruses are an important cause of pharyngitis in childhood.
Sharland
M
M
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, St George's Hospital, London.
Hodgson
J
J
Davies
E G
EG
Booth
J
J
Jeffery
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies