Abstract

Sore throat is a very common complaint, accounting for approximately 7.3 million outpatient physician visits each year among children in the United States. Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the most common bacterial cause of sore throat and is responsible for 15% to 36% of cases.¹ Estimated total costs attributable to GAS pharyngitis in children and adolescents are $224 million to $539 million annually, with most of these costs being attributed to parents’ lost work time.² Pharyngitis is generally a straightforward and self-limited complaint. However, the emergency clinician must appreciate that sore throat can occasionally be a symptom of a much more serious or potentially life-threatening condition.

Keywords: pharyngitis, group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, rapid antigen detection tests, and throat culture