Bacteriological and Serological Study of Beta Hemolytic Streptococcal Throat Infection Among School Children In Najaf Governorate

Abstract

The study presents the findings of bacteriological and immunological examinations of (250) children suffering from throat infection and (350) school children without throat infection as control .one hundred and five (105)infected children and one hundred (100) uninfected children were selected for asessment of ASO titer and CRP level. It was found that group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, a known sore throat pathogens, were significantly detected more often among children with throat infection than among healthy carriers as controls (43.6 % versus. 26 %) respectively. Also there was significant difference (p<0.005) between infected children and healthy carriers in isolation rate of group C beta hemolytic streptococci (16.4 %vs. 8.95 %) respectively.The study indicated that there was significant difference in ASO value 1/200 IU/ml between infected children (57.2 %) and controls (4 %)as well as there was significant relationship between ASO positivity and beta-hemolytic streptococci carriage. There was significant difference in CRP value between infected children (94.3 %) and controls (20 %). the sensitivity and specificity for ASO test was 57 %and 96 % respectively and for CRP test was 94.5 % and 80 % respectively.