Publication: Diagnosis of acute tonsillopharyngitis in primary care: A new approach for low-resource settings
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Authors
Alper, Züleyha
Uncu, Yeşim
Akalın, Halis
Ercan, İlker
Sınırtaş, Melda
Bilgel, Nazan Gönül
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Advisor
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Taylor & Francis
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Abstract
Background: Diagnosing GABHS (Group A-beta Hemolytic Streptococcus) tonsillopharyngitis by clinical scoring is a recommended approach in developed countries, but there is still much controversy for low resource settings.
Aim: We aimed to assess the impact of Centor criteria with the support of practical laboratory tests.
Methods: We prospectively included patients complaining sore throat (N=5282). We evaluated them in terms of Centor scoring and performed white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), rapid antigen detecting test, and throat culture.
Results: In GABHS cases (n=532, 11.3%), two of the criteria were observed to be positive in more than half of the cases (n=519, 59.3%), while 13 (40.7%) cases met three/four criteria. The specificity of having two criteria was found to be 65.5% and increased to 91.5% after including CRP and WBC.
Conclusion: Centor criteria could be safely used to reduce unnecessary antibiotic usage for tonsillopharyngitis in developing countries.
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Keywords
Oncology, Infectious diseases, Pathology, Pharmacology & pharmacy, Acute tonsillopharyngitis, Centor scoring, CRP, Primary care, Rapid antigen detecting test, WBC, Antigen-detection test, Streptococcal pharyngitis, Antibiotic use, Sore throat, Management, Strep, Validation, Guidelines, Adults, Prediction
Citation
Alper, Z. vd. (2013). "Diagnosis of acute tonsillopharyngitis in primary care: A new approach for low-resource settings". Journal of Chemotherapy, 25(3), 148-155.