Asymptomatic Group A Streptococcus carriage in children with recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.
BACKGROUND
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is the most important bacterial cause of acute tonsillitis in children. Some children are chronic GAS carriers, and this carriage is poorly understood. We determined the frequency of GAS detection using a rapid antigen detection test in pediatric patients with indications for tonsillectomy due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy or recurrent GAS infections.


METHODS
Seventy-two patients underwent a tonsil swab for a rapid antigen detection test.


RESULTS
The GAS rapid antigen detection test was positive in 18.1% of children. GAS was not associated with sex, age or previous history of recurrent tonsillitis. Also, the prevalence of GAS was similar between patients with either recurrent tonsillitis or tonsil hypertrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, the GAS carriage rate was similar to other reports, and GAS carrier state was not correlated with recurrent tonsillitis.
Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Isabela P Olivetti
IP
Pontin
Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: d.janolli@gmail.com.
Daniela Cristina Janolli
DC
Sanchez
Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Renata
R
Di Francesco
D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery
Frequency of GAS; GAS carriers; GAS rapid antigen detection test; Recurrent tonsillitis