RT Journal
A1 BREESE BB
T1 DIagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis-reply
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1979
FD April 1
VO 133
IS 4
SP 449
OP 449
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130040103033
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130040103033
AB In Reply.—Dr Lopez' letter is of interest to those of us trying to increase the accuracy of a tentative diagnosis of streptococcal infection based on clinical criteria prior to the report of the culture.Using the information given on his patients and assuming fever to be present in those with swollen tender glands, each patient would score 31 points on the 9-point system as follows:PointsSore throat 4Season (September to April) 3 (mean)Age, 5 to 10 years 4Abnormal glands 4Temperature, > 38 °C 4Cough (unknown) 4Headache (unknown) 2Abnormal pharynx (unknown) 3WBC count not done 3Total 31Fifty-eight percent of such patients in his series were found to have positive cultures. This is almost identical to the 56.5% positive cultures found in our patients with the same score. Although such a score favors a streptococcal diagnosis it is in the