Comparison of group A streptococcal titres in healthy children and those with pharyngitis and skin infections

Rates of acute rheumatic fever, a sequelae of group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection, remain unacceptably high in Indigenous Māori and Pacific children in New Zealand. This prospective study aimed to describe GAS antibody titres in healthy children (5–14 years) by ethnicity, and to determine how paired titres vary with GAS culture positive and negative pharyngitis, and GAS skin infections.

Citation:
Bennett J, Moreland NJ, Williamson DA, Carapetis J, Crane J, Whitcombe AL, et al. Comparison of group A streptococcal titres in healthy children and those with pharyngitis and skin infections. J Infect. 2021.

Keywords:
Anti-DNase-B; Anti-streptolysin O; Children; Group A Streptococcus; Pharyngitis; Serology; Skin infection

Abstract:
Rates of acute rheumatic fever, a sequelae of group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection, remain unacceptably high in Indigenous Māori and Pacific children in New Zealand. This prospective study aimed to describe GAS antibody titres in healthy children (5–14 years) by ethnicity, and to determine how paired titres vary with GAS culture positive and negative pharyngitis, and GAS skin infections.