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Presence of microorganisms in children with pharyngotonsillitis and healthy controls : a prospective study in primary healthcare

Pallon, Jon LU ; Sundqvist, Martin ; Rööst, Mattias LU ; Danielsson, Patrik ; Neumark, Thomas ; Skovbjerg, Susann ; Svedin, Jonas and Hedin, Katarina LU (2021) In Infection 49(4). p.715-724
Abstract

Purpose: Most studies on paediatric pharyngotonsillitis focus on group A streptococci. This study, however, analyses a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses related to paediatric pharyngotonsillitis and evaluates their associated clinical symptoms and courses. Methods: This observational prospective study in primary healthcare includes 77 children aged < 15 with a sore throat and 34 asymptomatic children, all of whom were sampled from the tonsils with an E-swab® for analysis with culture and PCR for 14 bacteria and 15 viruses. Patients were evaluated clinically, and their symptoms recorded in diaries for 10 days. Participants were followed up for 3 months by reviewing medical records. Results: A pathogen was detected in... (More)

Purpose: Most studies on paediatric pharyngotonsillitis focus on group A streptococci. This study, however, analyses a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses related to paediatric pharyngotonsillitis and evaluates their associated clinical symptoms and courses. Methods: This observational prospective study in primary healthcare includes 77 children aged < 15 with a sore throat and 34 asymptomatic children, all of whom were sampled from the tonsils with an E-swab® for analysis with culture and PCR for 14 bacteria and 15 viruses. Patients were evaluated clinically, and their symptoms recorded in diaries for 10 days. Participants were followed up for 3 months by reviewing medical records. Results: A pathogen was detected in 86% of patients and in 71% of controls (P = 0.06). Bacteria were found in 69% of patients and 59% of controls (P = 0.3), and viruses in 36% and 26%, respectively (P = 0.3). Group A streptococci was the most common finding, with a prevalence of 49% and 32%, respectively (P = 0.1). Clinical signs were not useful for distinguishing pathogens. None of the controls and 16% of the patients reconsulted for a sore throat within 3 months. Conclusion: Bacteria were more common than viruses in both study groups. The high rate of pathogens in asymptomatic children interferes with diagnoses based on aetiology.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Aetiology, Children, PCR, Pharyngotonsillitis, Primary healthcare, Prospective
in
Infection
volume
49
issue
4
pages
715 - 724
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85102294873
  • pmid:33686635
ISSN
0300-8126
DOI
10.1007/s15010-021-01595-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b88abf7a-4f4f-406b-bfb5-7d06c9f2ea3f
date added to LUP
2021-03-29 09:51:08
date last changed
2024-06-16 11:26:03
@article{b88abf7a-4f4f-406b-bfb5-7d06c9f2ea3f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Most studies on paediatric pharyngotonsillitis focus on group A streptococci. This study, however, analyses a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses related to paediatric pharyngotonsillitis and evaluates their associated clinical symptoms and courses. Methods: This observational prospective study in primary healthcare includes 77 children aged &lt; 15 with a sore throat and 34 asymptomatic children, all of whom were sampled from the tonsils with an E-swab<sup>®</sup> for analysis with culture and PCR for 14 bacteria and 15 viruses. Patients were evaluated clinically, and their symptoms recorded in diaries for 10 days. Participants were followed up for 3 months by reviewing medical records. Results: A pathogen was detected in 86% of patients and in 71% of controls (P = 0.06). Bacteria were found in 69% of patients and 59% of controls (P = 0.3), and viruses in 36% and 26%, respectively (P = 0.3). Group A streptococci was the most common finding, with a prevalence of 49% and 32%, respectively (P = 0.1). Clinical signs were not useful for distinguishing pathogens. None of the controls and 16% of the patients reconsulted for a sore throat within 3 months. Conclusion: Bacteria were more common than viruses in both study groups. The high rate of pathogens in asymptomatic children interferes with diagnoses based on aetiology.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pallon, Jon and Sundqvist, Martin and Rööst, Mattias and Danielsson, Patrik and Neumark, Thomas and Skovbjerg, Susann and Svedin, Jonas and Hedin, Katarina}},
  issn         = {{0300-8126}},
  keywords     = {{Aetiology; Children; PCR; Pharyngotonsillitis; Primary healthcare; Prospective}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{715--724}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Infection}},
  title        = {{Presence of microorganisms in children with pharyngotonsillitis and healthy controls : a prospective study in primary healthcare}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s15010-021-01595-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s15010-021-01595-9}},
  volume       = {{49}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}