title: Beta-haemolytic streptococci in school children 5-15 years of age with an emphasis on rheumatic fever, in the tri-island state of Grenada.
abstract: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of beta-haemolytic streptococci in the pharynx and antibodies to beta-haemolytic streptococci in school children 5-15 years of age in the tri-island state of Grenada Blood samples and throat swabs were obtained from 1388 school children, aged 5-15 years old attending randomly selected schools in each parish of the tri-island state of Grenada. Serum samples were subjected to antistreptolysin o testing (ASOT) while throat swabs were cultured on sheep blood agar plates. The prevalence of positive throat swab was 15.4% (95% CI = 13.4%, 17.2%). The rate was highest in St Patrick (21.8%) and lowest in Carriacou (5.7%). The prevalence of antibodies was 38.6% (95% CI = 37.6%, 42.8%). It was highest in St Patrick (54.4%) and lowest in Petit Martinique (26.8%). In St Patrick, males were significantly more likely than females to have a positive ASOT (p = 0.0084). In St George's, males were significantly more likely than females to have a positive throat culture (p = 0.0172). Thirty-four per cent of the positive cultures were type A, 10% were type C and 56% type G. The data illustrate that there is a high prevalence of beta-haemolytic streptococci in school children in certain parishes in Grenada. Public health measures should address prevention and control of beta3-haemolytic streptococcal infection in order to prevent the possible sequelae of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), St George's, Grenada, West Indies. trevornoel@sgu.edu
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zabriskie
authors.forename: C N L
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perrotte
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D005260:Female; D019425:Grenada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control