[Management of patients with acute pharyngitis].

Suggested citation: Ejzenberg B. Management of patients with acute pharyngitis. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2005;81:1-2. In the present issue of Jornal de Pediatria, Santos & Berezin1 discuss one of the most relevant themes related to general pediatrics: the management of patients with acute pharyngitis. The authors assessed the accuracy of a rapid test and of clinical parameters in the diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis, comparing it with the throat swab culture (gold standard). The conclusions concur with those of other studies, which demonstrate better accuracy of the rapid test.2-4 There is a direct implication on pediatric management, since the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis determines the administration of antibiotics for the prevention of late complications – rheumatic disease and acute glomerulonephritis.4 Next, some considerations will be made about the etiologic diagnosis and antibiotic therapy used in patients with acute pharyngitis.