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Pathogens or Innocent Bystanders?

Gregory F. Hayden, MD; Thomas F. Murphy, MD; J. Owen Hendley, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1989;143(7):794-797.

Abstract
• Objective
To determine whether β-hemolytic streptococci from groups other than A are an important cause of sporadic pharyngitis in children.

Design
Cross-sectional, case-referent survey.

Setting
General pediatric clinic at a military base in Ohio.

Participants
One hundred fifty children with symptomatic pharyngitis and 150 controls matched for age and time of presentation over a 20-month study period.

Interventions
None.

Measurements/Main Results
Anaerobic culture technique was used to improve isolation of β-hemolytic streptococci. Group A β-hemolytic streptococci were detected significantly more often among the ill children than among the controls (39% vs 16%, respectively). In contrast, non–group A β-hemolytic streptococci were isolated in similar frequency from the ill and control children (17% vs 21%, respectively). Non–group A β-hemolytic streptococci from groups B, C, F, and G were each isolated in similar frequency among the ill and control children. The isolation rate of non–group A organisms increased with age among both patients and controls.

Conclusions
Non–group A β-hemolytic streptococci seemed not to be an important cause of sporadic pharyngitis in this pediatric population.

(AJDC. 1989;143:794-797)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, (Drs Hayden and Hendley); and the Department of Pediatrics, US Air Force Medical Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Dr Murphy).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication January 31, 1989.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Air Force or the Department of Defense.

Reprint requests to the Department of Pediatrics, Box 501, Children's Medical Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (Dr Hayden).

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