
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Shetty, Anil 
A1  - Mills, Clair 
A1  - Eggleton, Kyle 
T1  - Primary care management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in Northland
JF  - Journal of Primary Health Care
JO  - J Prim Health Care
Y1  - 2014
VL  - 6
IS  - 3
SP  - 189
EP  - 194
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HC14189 
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Reducing the rate of acute rheumatic fever nationally by two-thirds by 2017 is a New Zealand Ministry of Health priority. Northland District Health Board (DHB) has high rates of rheumatic fever, disproportionately impacting on Maori children and young people. School-based programmes and general practice both contribute to rheumatic fever prevention in detecting and appropriately treating group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess adherence by general practitioners and school-based sore throat programmes to national guidelines for the management of GAS pharyngitis in Northland. METHODS: Laboratory and pharmaceutical data were obtained for children and young people aged 3&#x96;20 years who had GAS positive throat swabs in Northland laboratory services between 1 April and 31 July 2012. Data were analysed separately for general practice and the school programmes for rheumatic fever prevention. RESULTS: One in five of those children presenting to general practice with a positive throat swab and complete prescription data did not receive treatment according to national guidelines, while appropriate treatment was offered to more than 98% of children accessing school-based programmes. A significant proportion of those seen in general practice received antibiotics not recommended by guidelines, an inadequate length of treatment or no prescription. There were no significant differences in the management of Maori and non-Maori children. DISCUSSION: There is room for improvement in general practice management of GAS pharyngitis in Northland. School-based management of sore throat provides high-quality management for children at high risk of rheumatic fever. KEYWORDS: Pharyngitis; prevention and control; primary health care; rheumatic fever; school health services; Streptococcus pyogenes 
ER  -

