Assessment of anti streptolysin O titer in healthy school-age children in Qalyubia Governorate

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess the upper limit of antistreptolysin O titer (ASOT) in healthy school-age children in Qalyubia Governorate.BackgroundAcute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease are the most serious complication of group A streptococcal infection. Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis occurs 2–3 weeks after skin or throat infection with group A streptococcus. Overdiagnosis of ARF based on a raised ASOT is common in endemic areas, although an isolated high ASOT is not sufficient to diagnose ARF.Patients and methodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out in Qalyubia Governorate, and the collected sample was tested in Clinical Pathology Laboratory at Menoufia University Hospitals. Our study was conducted on 4142 children during the period of September 2018 to May 2019. All children were subjected to full medical history, thorough clinical examination (general and systemic), and laboratory investigations, including ASOT and erythrocyte sedimentation rate assessment and throat culture.ResultsThere was no significant difference between age and sex in the studied group. Our study showed significant correlations between age and ASOT among the studied groups. We found that the younger children aged up to 10 years had less basal levels of ASOT than older children. Rural children had significant higher ASOT than urban children. Males had significant lower ASOT compared with females.ConclusionWe concluded that upper limit of normal values of ASOT in normal Egyptian children in Qalyubia Governorate is quite high and may reach up to 490 IU/ml.