Pharyngitis diagnosis

Bisno AL, Gerber MA, Gwaltney JM Jr, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis 2002 35(2) 113-125. 

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis... 

Kaplan, E.L. (1971) Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis differentiation of active infection from carrier state in the symptomatic child. J Infect Dis 123 490-501. 

Fries SM. Diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in a private clinic comparative evaluation of an optical immunoassay method and culture. J Pediatr 1995 126 933-6. 

Seasonal outbreaks occur, and the occurrence of group A streptococcal pharyngitis is highest in winter and early spring. The incubation period is 2 to 5 days, and the illness often occurs in clusters. Spread occurs via direct contact with droplets of saliva or nasal secretions, and transmission is thus worse in institutions, schools, families, and areas of crowding. See Table 107-7 for clinical presentation and diagnosis of pharyngitis. 

For a patient presenting with pharyngitis, the most important clinical decision that needs to be made is whether the pharyngitis is caused by group A Streptococcus. Diagnosis is essential because it it directs management. 

---