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Sore Throat—A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma

Sore Throat—A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma THE MANAGEMENT of acute pharyngitis has become, more than ever, a frustrating experience for the practitioner. Without a throat culture, the differentiation between viral and streptococcal pharyngitis is unsatisfactory. On the other hand, a positive throat culture in itself does not necessarily mean that a significant streptococcal infection is in progress. For example, a patient with viral pharyngitis might be carrying group A streptococci which are not actually causing infection. How then is the clinician to make an accurate diagnosis in time to treat streptococcal disease intelligently? The problem is not insurmountable if he makes throat cultures routinely in all patients whom he examines with nasopharyngitis. Value of Throat Cultures.— By making throat cultures in all patients with nasopharyngitis, the physician becomes aware of the epidemiology of the infections he encounters. A throat culture which is negative for β-hemolytic streptococci will exclude the unnecessary and promiscuous use of expensive antibiotics. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Sore Throat—A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma

Stollerman, Gene H.
JAMA , Volume 189 (2) – Jul 13, 1964
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References (8)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1964 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.1964.03070020073016
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

THE MANAGEMENT of acute pharyngitis has become, more than ever, a frustrating experience for the practitioner. Without a throat culture, the differentiation between viral and streptococcal pharyngitis is unsatisfactory. On the other hand, a positive throat culture in itself does not necessarily mean that a significant streptococcal infection is in progress. For example, a patient with viral pharyngitis might be carrying group A streptococci which are not actually causing infection. How then is the clinician to make an accurate diagnosis in time to treat streptococcal disease intelligently? The problem is not insurmountable if he makes throat cultures routinely in all patients whom he examines with nasopharyngitis. Value of Throat Cultures.— By making throat cultures in all patients with nasopharyngitis, the physician becomes aware of the epidemiology of the infections he encounters. A throat culture which is negative for β-hemolytic streptococci will exclude the unnecessary and promiscuous use of expensive antibiotics.

Journal

JAMA – American Medical Association

Published: Jul 13, 1964

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