title: Antibiotic Use in Sore Throat: Are We Judicious?
abstract: Introduction Sore throat (acute tonsillitis/pharyngitis) is one of the most common clinical diagnosis encountered in ENT practice. It is a common practice to advice antibiotics in patients of sore throat not only in otolaryngology practice but also in pediatricians, GP's and internists. This is now becoming a matter of concern for two reasons, for the side effects of antibiotics and bacterial drug resistance. Methods To analyse patients on their symptoms and rapid streptococcal test for group A Stretococcus and determine antibiotic use. A prospective study was done in 600 patients who were clinically diagnosed as acute tonsillitis or acute pharyngitis and results analysed. Discussion Results showed that 24 % patients needed antibiotics while the rest did well without antibiotics. Results Rapid streptococcal test is a useful test in determining whether the patient needs antibiotic and help is reducing irrational use of antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Emirates International Hospital, PO Box 18088, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2961-1097
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, LN Medical College and Hospital, Bhopal, M.P. India.
authors.forename: Shiv Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Raghuwanshi
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, M.P. India.
authors.forename: Dinesh Prasad
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Asati
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Group A Streptococcus; Rapid streptococcal test