Streptococcal pharyngitis: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
(No difference)
|
Revision as of 18:52, 23 March 2010
| Streptococcal pharyngitis | |
 | |
|---|---|
| ICD-10 | J02.0 |
| ICD-9 | 034.0 |
| DiseasesDB | 12507 |
| MedlinePlus | 000639 |
| eMedicine | med/1811 |
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Overview
Streptococcal pharyngitis or streptococcal sore throat (Strep throat AmE), is a form of group A streptococcal infection that affects the pharynx, and possibly the larynx and tonsils.
Signs and symptoms
Streptococcal pharyngitis usually appears suddenly with a severe sore throat that may make talking or swallowing painful. In severe cases, breathing may be impaired.
Symptoms may include:
- Sudden and severe sore throat
- Red and enlarged tonsils
- Yellow and white patches in the throat.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tender cervical lymphadenopathy
- Fever of 38°C (101°F) or greater.
- General discomfort, feeling ill or uneasy
- Cough or dry cough
- Halitosis
- Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
- Rash[1]
- Hives
Diagnosis
There are several causes for pharyngitis, not just streptococcus bacteria. Productive coughing, nasal discharge, and red, irriated eyes in addition to fever and sore throat are more indicative of a viral sore throat than of strep throat, though a co-infection with a virus is possible and may explain the presence of these additional symptoms. A Rapid Strep Test or a throat culture may be undertaken to help clarify diagnosis.
The presence of marked lymph node enlargement along with sore throat, fever and tonsillar enlargement may also occur in infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever).[2]
A study of 729 patients with pharyngitis in which 17% had a positive throat culture for group A streptococcus, identified the following four best predictors of streptococcus:[3]
- Lack of cough
- Swollen and tender anterior cervical lymph nodes
- (Marked) tonsillar exudates[4]
- Fever
Number of symptoms Probability of GAS 0 2.5% 1 6.0 - 6.9% 2 14.1 – 16.6% 3 30.1 – 34.1% 4 55.7%
Another study on 621 patients, assigned one point for each of the following symptoms:[5]
- Temperature greater than 38 C
- Absence of cough
- Tender anterior cervical adenopathy
- Tonsillar swelling or exudate
- Age younger than 15
- Subtracting a point for age older than 45.
Points Probability of GAS Management 1 or less 0% Negative: No antibiotic 2 17% Indeterminate: antibiotic based on throat culture 3 35% 4 or 5 51% Positive: for throat culture and antibiotics
Finally, patients usually experience swelling of the tonsils and lymph nodes in the neck, but swelling can also be located in the soft palate in the top of the mouth. The absence of tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, tonsillar enlargement, and tonsillar or pharyngeal exudates has been suggested as being the most useful finding in ruling out strep throat; with a negative likelihood of 0.74.[6]
Transmission
Strep throat is caused by Group A streptococcal infection (GAS),[7][8][9][10] specifically the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.[11][12][13][14] It is spread by direct, close contact with an infected person via air-based germs.[15] In addition it may be spread through contamination of pillow cases, toys, tooth brushes, and other often-used materials.[9] Rarely, contaminated food, especially milk and milk products, can result in outbreaks.[16]
The incubation period for strep throat is thought to be between two to five days, but has been reported as long as eight days.[17]
Treatment
Symptomatic therapies
Nonprescription over the counter drugs of ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) both help relieve throat pain and reduce fever by an average of 2.2˚F or 2.3˚F in children.[18] Aspirin is not recommended for children due to the small but fatal risk of Reye's syndrome. In adults aspirin, paracetamol, or ibuprofen help reduce back pain by 48% and sore throat by 31%.[19]
Antibiotics
Antibiotics will reduce symptoms slightly, as was the case in one study of 11 adult patients with sore throat and confirmed GAS infection. They were evaluated daily after the start of antibiotic treatment to register symptoms and signs and to measure body temperature. The mean reduction rate was great, but it was the greatest reduction after 2 days. Out of all symptoms scores was for muscle or joint pain, 86%, and the lowest for sore throat, 67%.[20] Treatment, which consists of penicillin (orally for 10 days or a single intramuscular injection of penicillin G), will also minimize transmission. This is why GAS positive children should not go back to school or day care until they have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours. In one study, they assessed the potential risk of transmission to close school contact by taking 47 children with positive throat cultures and randomly selecting them to receive penicillin V, penicillin G, or erythromycin. Throat cultures were then taken 24 hours after start of antibiotics and 17 (36.2%) had positive throat cultures and 39 (83%) of the patients became culture negative.[21]
Cephalosporins, such as cefazoline, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone, are recommended for penicillin-allergic patients. In a study 41 patients, with confirmed penicillin allergy, were evaluated with cefazoline, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone, all cephalosporins, to see the allergic reaction. Skin tests with cephalosporins were clearly negative in 39 patients and all 41 patients tolerated the three cephalosporins administered.[22][23]
Second-line antibiotics include amoxicillin,[24] clindamycin,[25] and oral cephalosporins which have a significantly better cure rate than penicillin.[26]
Studies have also shown that the broader-spectrum of antibiotics offer effective short treatment courses that the traditional 10 days of Penicillin V,[27] but noted that "widespread use of broad-spectrum agents for a common infection is a significant concern in an age of increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance".[28]
It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics to prevent rheumatic fever or an abscess on the tonsils. In one report of 500 patients 30% had group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis 0.2% had rheumatic fever and 0.2% had peritonsillar abscess (an abscess on the tonsils).[2]
Other
A 2003 study found extract of Pelargonium sidoides was superior compared to placebo for the treatment of acute non-GABHS tonsillopharyngitis in children. Treatment with EPs 7630 reduced the severity of symptoms and shortened the duration of illness by at least 2 days.[29]
Complications
The symptoms of strep throat usually improve even without treatment in five days, but the patient is contagious for several weeks. Lack of treatment or incomplete treatment of strep throat can lead to various complications. Some of them may pose serious health risks. Therefore, streptococcal tonsillitis is important to recognize and treat early. [30]
Infectious complications
- The active infection may occur in the throat, skin, and in blood.
- Skin and soft tissues may become infected, resulting in redness, pain, and swelling. Skin and deep tissues may also become necrotic (rare).
- Herpes
- Scarlet fever is caused by toxins released by the bacteria.
- Rarely, some strains may cause a severe illness in which blood pressure is reduced and lung injury and kidney failure may occur (toxic shock syndrome).
Noninfective complications
- During the infection, antibodies (disease–fighting chemicals) are produced, sometimes causing a rare complication that can result after the organism is cleared, when these antibodies cause disease in body organs.
- Rheumatic fever is a heart disease in which the inflammation of heart muscle and scarring of heart valves can occur.
- Glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease which may lead to kidney failure.[31]
See also
- PANDAS - Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections
- Tonsillitis
- Pharyngitis
- Psoriasis
- Herpes, as the symptoms of these two ailments are very similar, do not mistake one for the other.
References
- ↑ Kids Health
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ebell MH (2004). "Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis". Am Fam Physician. 70 (7): 1279–87. PMID 15508538.
- ↑ Centor RM, Dalton HP, Campbell MS, Lynch MR, Watlington AT, Garner BK (1986). "Rapid diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis in adult emergency room patients". J Gen Intern Med. 1 (4): 248–51. doi:10.1007/BF02596194. PMID 3534175.
- ↑ Komaroff AL, Pass TM, Aronson MD; et al. (1986). "The prediction of streptococcal pharyngitis in adults". J Gen Intern Med. 1 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1007/BF02596317. PMID 3534166.
- ↑ McIsaac WJ, Goel V, To T, Low DE (2000). "The validity of a sore throat score in family practice". CMAJ. 163 (7): 811–5. PMID 11033707.
- ↑ Eaton CA (2001). "What clinical features are useful in diagnosing strep throat?". J Fam Pract. 50 (3): 201. PMID 11252201.
- ↑ Merrill B, Kelsberg G, Jankowski TA, Danis P (2004). "Clinical inquiries. What is the most effective diagnostic evaluation of streptococcal pharyngitis?". J Fam Pract. 53 (9): 734, 737–8, 740. PMID 15353164.
- ↑ Centor RM, Meier FA, Dalton HP (1986). "Throat cultures and rapid tests for diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis". Ann. Intern. Med. 105 (6): 892–9. PMID 3535604.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Falck G, Kjellander J, Schwan A (1998). "Recurrence rate of streptococcal pharyngitis related to hygienic measures". Scand J Prim Health Care. 16 (1): 8–12. doi:10.1080/028134398750003331. PMID 9612872.
- ↑ Kieserman SP, Williams J, Linstrom C (1995). "Streptococcal pharyngitis: alternative treatments". Ear Nose Throat J. 74 (11): 777–80. PMID 8536567.
- ↑ Opdyke JA, Scott JR, Moran CP (2001). "A secondary RNA polymerase sigma factor from Streptococcus pyogenes". Mol. Microbiol. 42 (2): 495–502. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02657.x. PMID 11703670.
- ↑ Gieseker KE, Roe MH, MacKenzie T, Todd JK (2003). "Evaluating the American Academy of Pediatrics diagnostic standard for Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis: backup culture versus repeat rapid antigen testing". Pediatrics. 111 (6 Pt 1): e666–70. doi:10.1542/peds.111.6.e666. PMID 12777583.
- ↑ Nandi S, Chakraborti A, Bakshi DK, Rani A, Kumar R, Ganguly NK (2002). "Association of pyrogenic exotoxin genes with pharyngitis and rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease among Indian isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes". Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 35 (3): 237–41. doi:10.1046/j.1472-765X.2002.01176.x. PMID 12180948.
- ↑ Brandt CM, Allerberger F, Spellerberg B, Holland R, Lütticken R, Haase G (2001). "Characterization of consecutive Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from patients with pharyngitis and bacteriological treatment failure: special reference to prtF1 and sic / drs". J. Infect. Dis. 183 (4): 670–4. doi:10.1086/318542. PMID 11170997.
- ↑ Lindbaek M, Høiby EA, Lermark G, Steinsholt IM, Hjortdahl P (2004). "Predictors for spread of clinical group A streptococcal tonsillitis within the household". Scand J Prim Health Care. 22 (4): 239–43. PMID 15765640.
- ↑ Asteberg I, Andersson Y, Dotevall L; et al. (2006). "A food-borne streptococcal sore throat outbreak in a small community". Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 38 (11–12): 988–94. doi:10.1080/00365540600868370. PMID 17148066.
- ↑ Sarvghad MR, Naderi HR, Naderi-Nassab M; et al. (2005). "An outbreak of food-borne group A Streptococcus (GAS) tonsillopharyngitis among residents of a dormitory". Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 37 (9): 647–50. doi:10.1080/00365540510044085. PMID 16126564.
- ↑ Figueras Nadal C, García de Miguel MJ, Gómez Campderá A, Pou Fernández J, Alvarez Calatayud G, Sánchez Bayle M (2002). "Effectiveness and tolerability of ibuprofen-arginine versus paracetamol in children with fever of likely infectious origin". Acta Paediatr. 91 (4): 383–90. PMID 12061352.
- ↑ Farhan, M., Leparc, J.M., Moore, N., Pelen, F., Vanganse, E., Verriere, F., & Wall, R. (1999). The pain study: Paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen new tolerability study: A large-scale, randomized clinical trial comparing the tolerability of aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol for short-term analgesia. Clinical Dug Investigation, 18(2), 89-98. Retrieved on December 9, 2007.
- ↑ Melbye H, Bjørkheim MK, Leinan T (2002). "Daily reduction in C-reactive protein values, symptoms, signs and temperature in group-A streptococcal pharyngitis treated with antibiotics". Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 62 (7): 521–5. doi:10.1080/003655102321004530. PMID 12512742.
- ↑ Snellman LW, Stang HJ, Stang JM, Johnson DR, Kaplan EL (1993). "Duration of positive throat cultures for group A streptococci after initiation of antibiotic therapy". Pediatrics. 91 (6): 1166–70. PMID 8502522.
- ↑ Novalbos A, Sastre J, Cuesta J; et al. (2001). "Lack of allergic cross-reactivity to cephalosporins among patients allergic to penicillins". Clin. Exp. Allergy. 31 (3): 438–43. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2222.2001.00992.x. PMID 11260156.
- ↑ Pichichero ME (2005). "A review of evidence supporting the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation for prescribing cephalosporin antibiotics for penicillin-allergic patients". Pediatrics. 115 (4): 1048–57. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1276. PMID 15805383.
- ↑ Feder HM, Gerber MA, Randolph MF, Stelmach PS, Kaplan EL (1999). "Once-daily therapy for streptococcal pharyngitis with amoxicillin". Pediatrics. 103 (1): 47–51. doi:10.1542/peds.103.1.47. PMID 9917438.
- ↑ Martin JM, Green M, Barbadora KA, Wald ER (2004). "Group A streptococci among school-aged children: clinical characteristics and the carrier state". Pediatrics. 114 (5): 1212–9. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-0133. PMID 15520098.
- ↑ Casey JR, Pichichero ME (2004). "Meta-analysis of cephalosporin versus penicillin treatment of group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis in children". Pediatrics. 113 (4): 866–82. doi:10.1542/peds.113.4.866. PMID 15060239.
- ↑ Adam D, Scholz H, Helmerking M (2000). "Short-course antibiotic treatment of 4782 culture-proven cases of group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis and incidence of poststreptococcal sequelae". J. Infect. Dis. 182 (2): 509–16. doi:10.1086/315709. PMID 10915082.
- ↑ Lord RW (2000). "Is a 5-day course of antibiotics as effective as a 10-day course for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and the prevention of poststreptococcal sequelae?". J Fam Pract. 49 (12): 1147. PMID 11132064.
- ↑ Bereznoy VV, Riley DS, Wassmer G, Heger M (2003). "Efficacy of extract of Pelargonium sidoides in children with acute non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus tonsillopharyngitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial". Altern Ther Health Med. 9 (5): 68–79. PMID 14526713.
- ↑ Mitchell, Richard Sheppard; Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson. Robbins Basic Pathology: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access. Philadelphia: Saunders. pp. p537. ISBN 1-4160-2973-7. Unknown parameter
|edith=ignored (help) - ↑ EMedicineHealth
External links
- Group A Streptococcal Infections - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
- Post-infectious glomerulonephritis - mayoclinic.com.