Streptococcal pharyngitis

Background

• Strep pharyngitis
  • Peak in 5-15yr old
  • Rare in <2yr of age
  • Accounts for only 15-30% of pharyngitis

Clinical Features

• Sore throat
• Painful swallowing
• Fever
• N/V
• Tonsillar exudate
• Palatal petechiae

Diagnosis - Centor Criteria

1. History of fever
2. Absence of cough
3. Lymphadenopathy
4. Tonsillar exudate or swelling

Points	Treatment
4	Rx without testing
3	Rapid Strep Test
2	Rapid Strep Test
1	Do not test/treat
0	Do not test/treat

• Likelihood of streptococcal pharyngitis in pts presenting with sore throat
  • 4 criteria = 50% PPV
  • 3 criteria = 40% PPV
  • 0 criteria - 80% NPV

DDx

1. Causes
   1. Viral pharyngitis
   2. Retropharyngeal abscess
   3. EBV pharyngitis
   4. CMV pharyngitis
   5. Gonococcal pharyngitis
2. Others
   1. Acute HIV
   2. Lemierre's Syndrome
   3. PTA
   4. Retropharyngeal Abscess
   5. Ludwig's Angina
   6. Epiglottitis

Treatment

Antibiotics

Tx can be delayed for up to 9 days and still prevent major sequelae

• Penicillin V 250mg PO BID x 10d (child) or 500mg BID x 10d (adolescent)
• Bicillin L-A 25-50Kmg/kg IM x 1 (max dose = 1.2million)

PCN allergic (mild):

• Cefuroxime 10mg/kg PO QID x 10d (child) or 250mg PO BID x 4d

PCN allergic (anaphylaxis):

• Clindamycin 7.5mg/kg PO QID x 10d (child) or 450mg PO TID x 10d OR
• Azithromycin 12mg/kg QD (child) or 500mg on day 1; then 250mg on days 2-5

Steroids

• Single dose of dexamethasone shortens duration of pain
• Dexamethasone 0.6mg/kg PO

See Also

• Peritonsilar Abscess
• Sore Throat

Source

• Tintinalli
• Rosen's
• Logan LK, McAuley JB, Shulman ST. [Macrolide treatment failure in streptococcal pharyngitis resulting in acute rheumatic Fever]. Pediatrics. 2012 Mar;129(3):e798-802. Epub 2012 Feb 6.