Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 3 (1992)Epidemiological Features of Streptococcal Pharyngitis in Al Ain School AgedChildrenStudent Authors: Hessa Khalfan Al-GhazalFaculty Supervisors: Dr. E.G. Adekolu-John, Dr. M.A.A. MoussaAbstract:Objectives To determine the risk factors associated with Group A Beta HaemolyticStreptococi (GABHS) pharyngitis in Al Ain school aged children (from 6-18 years)including socio-demographic factors such as age, sex, nationality, and socio- economicstatus. To estimate the rate of isolation of GABHS among cases of pharyngitis incomparison to asymptomatic school children.Design Case-control study.Subject Two groups, 150 cases of pharyngitis attending primary health care centersand 150 controls from healthy school children.Results and Conclusion GABHS were isolated significantly more frequently amongcases with pharyngitis than among controls. Due to the small sample size, nosignificant risk factors were identified. Overcrowding was the only factor associatedwith the occurrence of GABHS. Shorter duration of symptoms was also associated withGABHS but no other clinical features were found significantly different between thosehaving positive and negative GABHS. Proper health education and further studies arerecommended.