Streptococcus pyogenes infection and asymptomatic throat carriage in children

Abstract

Objective: To establish the frecuency of Streptococcus pyogenes infection or asymptomatic carriage in a group of children, by means of a rapid antigendetection test. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a non-probabilistic sample of 144 children aged between 3 and 13 years, in two educational institutions in Bogotá and Medellin. A single throat specimen was obtained from each child to carry out the rapid test; demographic data and information on pertinent symptoms and signs were obtained by means of a survey. Mean and standard deviation and percentages were calculated according to the nature of the variables.

Results: Average age was 5.5 ± 2.8 years, with even distribution by gender. Twenty one children (14,6%) were positive for  S. pyogenes; out of them, 10 had possible infection and 11 were asymptomatic throat carriers. Forty five children (31.3%) reported pharyngeal symptoms and 10 (22.2%) out of them were positive in the rapid test. Ninety nine children (68.7%) were asymptomatic and of them 11 (11.1%) were also positive.

Discussion: Management protocols for  S. pyogenes infection would benefit from the detection based on rapid tests.