title: Prevalence of β-hemolytic Streptococcus in children with special health care needs.
abstract: Pharyngotonsillitis by β-hemolytic Streptococcus mostly affects children and immunocompromised, being Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A) the most common agent in bacterial pharyngotonsillitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work targeted the research of β-hemolytic Streptococcus Group-A (SBHGA) and No-A (SBHGNA) in the oropharynx of individuals with special health needs from the APAE (Maceió-AL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study with oropharynx samples from patients with Down syndrome and other mental disorders (test) and students from a private school (control) aged 5-15 years. Cultures in blood agar (5%) were identified through Gram/catalase tests and bacitracin/trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole disk diffusion method, applying the chi-squared statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 222 bacterial colonies were isolated in 74 individuals from APAE and 65 in the control group. In the test group, previous episodes of pharyngotonsillitis were reported by 36.49% (27/74) and 9.46% (7/74) were diagnosed with symptoms and/or signs suggestive of oropharynx infection. No positive sample of S. pyogenes was confirmed at APAE, being all samples classified as SBHGNA, with 5 SBHGA in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early identification of β-hemolytic Streptococcus is important for the fast treatment of pharyngotonsillitis and the absence of S. pyogenes avoid future suppurative or not-suppurative sequels in the group from APAE.
authors.affiliation: 　Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco.
authors.forename: Viviane Martha Santos de
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Alice Ramos
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: Fernanda Cristina de Albuquerque
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Maranhão
authors.forename: Therezita Maria Peixoto Patury Galvão
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Karina Cavalcante Beltrão de
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Denise Maria Wanderlei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination