A Study of Group A Hemolytic Streptococcus Carriers Among School Children:

Abstract

Summary In the course of a study pursued for 2 consecutive years in normal children of a suburban public school of the Paris area, the following findings were noted: (1) when the technique used was sufficiently sensitive, the rate of healthy carriers was relatively high: 16.7%on an average, with a range of 6.7%to 30%. (2) this percentage seemed to present variations during the course of the year which are perhaps due to a seasonal factor. (3) the cumulative percentage was such that at the end of two years more than one subject in two was found, to have been a carrier of hemolytic streptococci a t least once. (4) there was no correlation between the rate of carriers and the development of clinical infections (septic sore throat, scarlet fever). (5) the subjects fell into 4 groups: refractory subjects, occasional carriers, prolonged carriers of the same strain, prolonged carriers of different strains. (6) a “prolonged carrier”) factor was found to exist statistically, i.e. certain subjects were particularly receptive to the Group A hemolytic streptococcus, or conversely, certain subjects were refractory. (7) within the scope of our study this factor was found together with various to, her independent correlations. Of these, the correlations with the presence of tonsils and with bad conditions of hygiene (absence of running water in the child's home) were hardly surprising; that with a genetic factor (dark iris) was more unexpected, but has been established on equally as sound a basis.

Throat Carrier Rates of Beta-hemolytic Streptococci among Healthy Adults and Children

“…Values far above as well as below our results are given (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Due to variations in culture-, grouping-, and typing-techniques as well as varying epidemiological situations it is difficult to compare results.…”