This 1-year prospective open trial was conducted on 777 children aged from 3 to 16 years old, who visited for acute sore throat and had at least one sign of pharyngitis. Data of demographic information, history of illness and use of antibiotics within recent days was documented. Clinical findings, included temperature and 2 pharyngeal swabbing samples (for microbial isolation and for detecting group A Streptococcal -specified antigen by rapid test), was computerized and analysed. Results: Group A Streptococcus was detected in 30.8% of children with acute pharyngitis. There wasn't any factor, including sex, age, and body temperature on admission or illness duration, related to the infection rate. It was found that, however, the infection rate was highest during winter and spring, when it is wet and cold. The mean of infection rate during these seasons was 36.6% and with the peak was 44.2% in March 1998. The rapid test produced the sensitivity of 88.7% and the specificity of 95.7% in this trial.
Streptococcus pyogenes ; Pharyngitis ; infection ; child ; Diagnosis