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References
- Carrillo-Marquez, M. A., (2016). Bacterial Pharyngitis. Medscape. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/225243-overview#a5.
- Kalra, M. G., Higgins, K. E., & Perez, E. D. (2016). Common Questions about Streptococcal Pharyngitis. American Family Physician, 94(1), 24-31, Retrieved from: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=2d6fdc37-8945-4684-ab25-9f74045c6e73%40sessionmgr4008&vid=14&hid=4209
- Valentine, W. (2013). Streptococcal Pharyngitis. XMind. Retrieved from: http://www.xmind.net/m/YHes.
- Zimbron, J. (2008). Mind maps—Dementia, endocarditis, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://MedMaps.co.uk
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Signs and Symptoms
- - Fever over 103.3 F
- - Headache
- - Chills
- - Abdominal Pain
- - Nausea and Vomiting
- - Sore throat with pain
- - Tonsils +4 with erythema (redness) and exudate (drainage or white spots)
- - Difficulty swallowing with anterior cervical node tenderness
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Tool to Diagnosis
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Points
- Fever 1
- Absence of cough 1
- Tonsillar exudates 1
- Swollen, Tender Anterior Lymph Nodes 1
- Age between 3-14 1
- Low Risk = 1-2 points
- Medium Risk = 3-4 points Perform RADT
- High Risk = 5 points Perform RADT/ Start Antibiotics
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Pathophysiology
- - Group A Streptococcus prevalence in children is 20-30% with pharyngitis. In adults only 5 to 15%.
- - Gram positive streptococci pair up with catalase –negative cocci to conlonlise the upper respiratory tract. S. pyogenes rapidly spreads as it overtakes defense systems of the tonsils
- - As the bacterium escapes the phagocytosis through the neutrophils or macrophages it is able to colonize through the body resulting in complications
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Complications
- !!Rheumatic fever!!
- !Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis!
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High Risk Factors
- Other people in home sick
- School aged children
- Children 5 -15 and under 25 at highest risk
- More common in the north is winter and early
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Treatment
- Perform Rapid Stress test to confirm diagnosis
- *** Antibiotics (must emphasizing completing course even if symptoms get better) ***
- - Amoxicillin or Penicillin = 10 days 250mg – twice daily in children. Adults may take 500mg once daily or 250mg twice daily for 10 days
- - IM injection once – 1.2 million units of Penicillin G Benzithine (child must be over 27kg) or 600,000 units Penicillin G Benzithine (for a child under 27kg)
- - If Allergic to “–cillins” other antibiotics can be used. See following list: Azithromycin, clarithromycin, cephalosporins.