1Assistant Professor & Epidemiologist, Department of Community Medicine, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Medical Sciences, Manamai-Nallur, Chennai
2Research Officer, Department of Epidemiology, The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai
3Professor, Department of Oral pathology, Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai
4Professor& Head, Department of Oral pathology, Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai
5Registrar, Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai
*Corresponding Author: Dr. B. Krishna Prasanth Assistant Professor & Epidemiologist, Department of Community Medicine, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Medical Sciences, Manamai-Nallur, Chennai Email: mail2kristain@gmail.com
Online published on 21 July, 2018.
To study the prevalence of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) carriers among healthy school children residing at Chennai.
A total of 730 school children were screened and enrolled to this study. Two throat swabs were collected from all the children irrespective of their symptoms. Throat swabs were cultured and bacterial culture was isolated and confirmed by streptococcal group identification kit. Beta haemolytic streptococci isolates were further sero-grouped by agglutination tests by using specific antisera.
730 school children between the age of 5 to 15 years were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the study group was 7.6 years. Out of the 313 culture positive cases, 217 (29%) were Group A Streptococci, 64 (8%) were Group B Streptococci, 18(2.4%) were Group C Streptococci, 2(0.27%) were Group D Streptococci, 1(0.1%) were Group F Streptococci, 2 (0.27%) were Group G Streptococci and 9(1.2%) were mixed Group C and F Streptococci. Among the 29% GAS positive children, 64% were transient carriers, 27% were recurrent carriers and 9% were chronic carriers.
All the GAS positive cases were referred to Primary Health Centre for treatment. Identification of the GAS and treating them, not only prevents them from developing non-suppurative complications, but also prevent the spread of GAS to their family members and other children.
Group A Streptococcus, carrier throat swab, asymptomatic children
