Family contacts of post streptococcal acute glomerulonephritisThis study was conducted in family contacts of post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) assessing socio-economic status (SES), streptococcal activity (SA) and nephritic activity (NA). One hundred and forty three families were studied. The mean number of persons per family was 6.9; mean age of contacts was 20.8 years; 48.2% were males; the number of persons per bedroom was greater than 4 in 23.4% of the cases and that of persons per bed greater than 2 in 21.4% of them. Quality of neighbourhood and housing was in the lowest grade of a conventional classification in 55.2% and 62.5% of the families respectively. Group A streptococci was isolated in 13.5% of contacts from throat swabs and in 47.7% from skin lesions. Significant titres of antistreptolysine O (333 UT) were detected in 20%, hematuria in 10.6% and low C 3 in 17.7% of contacts; the frequency of these last two criteria was 2.6% and in 1.3% it was associated to evidence of streptococcal infection. Comparing this results with those from control families of the same health district, there were significant differences in SES and SA, in detriment of PSAGN families. It is concluded that SES is worse and SA is greater in PSAGN family contacts than in control families. It is possible to detect subclinical NA in family contacts of PSAGN cases, supporting the idea of primary prevention activities in this high risk group. (

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