Abstract

ASYMPTOMATIC THROAT CARRIAGE OF POTENTIAL BACTERIAL PATHOGEN IN CHILDREN BELLOW FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

Sunil Shekhar Ghimire*, Pravin Kumar, Pooja Singh Gangania, Anu Miglani, Varsha A. Singh

ABSTRACT

Group A streptococci (GAS) are the most frequently isolated pathogens in acute pharyngotonsilitis i.e. approximately 20% cases in school-aged children. Therefore Group A streptococci are responsible for the great majority of such infections and frequently colonize in the throat of an asymptomatic person. The aim of this study was to find out children below 15 years for asymptomatic throat carriage of potential bacterial pathogen and co-relation of isolates with some epidemiological parameters like age, sex, socio-economical status and seasonal variations. In this study we included 200 throat swabs and by standard techniques we went for the isolation of GAS. In the current study 58(29%) were belonging to 5 to 10 years of age group, in which Group A Streptococcus carrier children were 7(12.06%),where as 142(71%) children were belonging to 11 to 15 years of age group, in which Group A Streptococcus carrier children were 23(16.19%).In case of sex wise distribution male participant were 124(62%), among them group A streptococcus carrier were 17(13.70%), whereas among 76(38%) female children, 13(17.10%) were group A streptococcus carrier. In this female were more prone than male. According to season’s, group A streptococcus was seen 56.66% during winter and 43.33% in summer. In present study parents who were earning 5000 INR or less than 5000 INR per month considered as poor and children belonging to them were more prone of carriage (81%).

Keywords: GAS-Group A Streptococcus, ARF-Acute Rheumatic Fever.