[Improvement of rapid laboratory methods for the diagnosis of streptococcal infections].

In 1975, clinical and epidemiological investigations were carried out on streptococcal infections, affecting 261 persons in a children's community. Rapid laboratory tests were used, employing commercial sodium amyl polyethylen microtablets. Of the total persons investigated 24.5% (64) presented primary streptococcal infections and 0.3% (1) complications. Environmental complications was 5% greater in the communities with scarlet fever foci than in the intact communities. The absence of late manifestations in the 1--4 year-old children attests to the effectiveness of the preventive measures taken.