Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat · ~6% of blueprint

Pathophysiology: Group A Streptococcus (S. pyogenes) infection of the pharynx.
Signs & Symptoms: Sore throat, fever, tonsillar exudate, tender anterior cervical nodes, and absence of cough.
Gold Standard Diagnosis: Centor/McIsaac score → rapid antigen detection test ± throat culture (gold standard in children).
First-line Treatment: Penicillin or amoxicillin for 10 days (first-line); confirm GAS by RADT/culture before treating.

High-Yield Pearl

Treat GAS to prevent rheumatic fever; Centor criteria (fever, exudate, nodes, no cough) guide testing.

Sources

Reviewed September 2026

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