Beta-haemolytic streptococci in school children 5-15 years of age with an emphasis on rheumatic fever, in the tri-island state of Grenada
| Autor: | T. P. Noel, C. N. L. Macpherson, G. Perrotte, J. Zabriskie |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2005 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Pediatrics medicine.medical_specialty Adolescent Throat culture Island state Streptococcal Infections Throat medicine Humans Child medicine.diagnostic_test business.industry Public health Pharynx General Medicine medicine.disease medicine.anatomical_structure Beta haemolytic Child Preschool Communicable Disease Control Grenada Rheumatic fever Female Morbidity Rheumatic Fever business Martinique |
| Zdroj: | West Indian Medical Journal. 54 |
| ISSN: | 0043-3144 |
| Popis: | The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of beta-haemolytic streptococci in the pharynx and antibodies to beta-haemolytic streptococci in school children 5-15 years of age in the tri-island state of Grenada Blood samples and throat swabs were obtained from 1388 school children, aged 5-15 years old attending randomly selected schools in each parish of the tri-island state of Grenada. Serum samples were subjected to antistreptolysin o testing (ASOT) while throat swabs were cultured on sheep blood agar plates. The prevalence of positive throat swab was 15.4% (95% CI = 13.4%, 17.2%). The rate was highest in St Patrick (21.8%) and lowest in Carriacou (5.7%). The prevalence of antibodies was 38.6% (95% CI = 37.6%, 42.8%). It was highest in St Patrick (54.4%) and lowest in Petit Martinique (26.8%). In St Patrick, males were significantly more likely than females to have a positive ASOT (p = 0.0084). In St George's, males were significantly more likely than females to have a positive throat culture (p = 0.0172). Thirty-four per cent of the positive cultures were type A, 10% were type C and 56% type G. The data illustrate that there is a high prevalence of beta-haemolytic streptococci in school children in certain parishes in Grenada. Public health measures should address prevention and control of beta3-haemolytic streptococcal infection in order to prevent the possible sequelae of this disease. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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