Streptococcal pharyngitis in infants: a reappraisal of its prevalence.

The prevalence of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in children under 3 years of age was determined by retrospective review of the results of throat cultures taken from children seen in a middle-class, suburban, private pediatric practice. Of 2,200 throat cultures obtained, 7% (149) were from children in this age group, and 15% (23) of these were positive for group A streptococci. All children had pharyngeal injection and the majority were symptomatic, with fever, rash, or rhinitis. Exudative pharyngitis was rare. This study suggests that pharyngeal infection with this organism in infants and young children is not uncommon, and justifies the need for throat cultures in this population.