Recurrent Streptococcal Pharyngitis–Reply–I

Abstract

We thank Dr Hoover for his interest in our article. His family's experience sounds similar to that reported in 1983 in the journal Postgraduate Medicine. In that report, Mayer and Van Ore1Mayer G Van Ore S Recurrent pharyngitis in family of four: household pet as reservoir of group A streptococci.Postgrad Med. 1983; 74: 277-279PubMed Google Scholar described similar difficulties in eradicating group A β-hemolytic streptococcal infection in a family of 4 individuals.1Mayer G Van Ore S Recurrent pharyngitis in family of four: household pet as reservoir of group A streptococci.Postgrad Med. 1983; 74: 277-279PubMed Google Scholar On discovering that the family dog carried group A streptococcus, the entire family, including the dog, was treated concurrently, and no streptococcus episodes followed treatment. However, other investigators have subsequently published reports indicating that the transmission of group A streptococcus from pets to families is probably rare. Wilson et al2Wilson KS Maroney SA Gander RM The family pet as an unlikely source of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection in humans.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1995; 14: 372-375Crossref PubMed Scopus (32) Google Scholar cultured specimens obtained from animals owned by families with children who had acute streptococcal pharyngitis, from pets of families with children who did not have streptococcal pharyngitis, and from dogs and cats from a local veterinary hospital. None of the animals in which culture studies were performed carried β-hemolytic streptococcus. Falck3Falck G Group A streptococci in household pets' eyes—a source of infection in humans?.Scand J Infect Dis. 1997; 29: 469-471Crossref PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar examined cultures from 61 pets belonging to children with acute infection and found group A streptococcus in the eye secretions of only 2 of the pets. He noted that “transmission of group A streptococci from humans to pets and vice versa can probably occur, but is uncommon.” On the basis of these more recent studies, we expect that the presence of a household pet as a streptococcus carrier is unlikely to play a role in most cases of recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis. Recurrent Streptococcal PharyngitisMayo Clinic ProceedingsVol. 82Issue 1PreviewTo the Editor: The article by St. Sauver et al1 on the prevalence of recurrent episodes of streptococcal pharyngitis in children prompted me to share a personal experience with this problem. Years ago when our children were preschool age and stayed at home, they experienced a series of recurrent bouts of streptococcal pharyngitis. Their pediatrician treated them on multiple occasions. Because the recurrent infections persisted even when all 3 children were treated at the same time and their mother and I had negative culture results, I decided there had to be another cause. Full-Text PDF