Antistreptolysin Titre in School Children

SUMMARY 103 children between 7 and 16 years of age have been clinically observed and followed up with AST for one year. 1. AST in health in children 7 and 8 years of age generally was low. In older children AST was adjusted to a higher level unaltered up to the age of 16 years. 2. Even very slight respiratory infections, likely to escape observation, often were followed by elevated AST persistant for a long time. Such elevations were most common in the youngest children. 3. Chronic infections of the respiratory tract often were followed by elevated AST, especially when acconipanied by regional lymphoid reactions. 4. The presence of hemolytic streptococci in the throat regularly influenced AST only when inflammatory reactions existed. 5. According to these facts AST in school children should be very carefully evaluated as a sign of actual hemolytic streptococci infection. Finally, measles, even when apparently uncomplicated, often was followed by an elevation of AST.