PREVALENCE OF STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN OF POKHARA VALLEY, NEPAL

J B Khattri,J S Nagra,K N Brahmadathan,Lochana Shrestha

doi:10.31729/jnma.737

Abstract

Group A Beta Haemolytic Streptococcal (GABHS) infections and their sequelaeRheumatic fever (RF) and Glomerulonephritis (GN) have a world wide distributionand pose an important health problem. Present study intended to find out the prevalenceofGABHS pharyngitis among school children in the Pokhara Valley, Nepal. It was across sectional, observational study. During 7 months period total 750 children wereexamined from six government primary schools. 25.3% were found to have symptomsof clinical pharyngitis and the prevalence of GABHS pharyngitis was 7.2% amongthese school children. GABHS pharyngitis found more among male and in the agegroup of 3-10 years. This study was undertaken to highlight the problems of GABHSthroat infections in Nepalese school children and also to stress on the urgent need forcontrol programme for streptococcal disease complex.Key Words: Prevalence, Streptococcal pharyngitis, School children.

Highlights

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS ) are the usual cause of acute streptococcal throat infection, either pharyngitis or tonsillitis, in children between 5-15 years
The overall prevalence of GABHS pharyngitis among these children was 7.2% while it varied from 2.5%
The present study shows a high prevalence rate of GABHS pharyngitis among school children

Summary

Introduction

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS ) are the usual cause of acute streptococcal throat infection, either pharyngitis or tonsillitis, in children between 5-15 years. Such infections can lead to the late or non-suppurative sequelae, namely, rheumatic fever (RF) leading to RHD and acute post-streptococcal glomeronephritis (AGN ).[1] RF and AGN are major health problems in the developing world. The incidence ofRF declined in industrialized countries, since the 1950's and has an annual prevalence of 0.5 cases per 1,00,000 children In developing countries it remains an endemic disease with annual incidence ranging from 100 to 200 per 1,00,000 school children and is a major cause of cardio-vascular mortality.[2] RF is reported to occur in 1-3 percent of streptococcal throat infections of children living in underprivileged conditions.[3]

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Conclusion