Controlled Studies of Streptococcal Pharyngitis in a Pediatric Population

PROMPT and adequate penicillin therapy of A pharyngitis due to Group A streptococci has proved effective in preventing primary attacks of rheumatic fever in military populations.1 , 2 Such treatment has been widely recommended for the control of rheumatic fever in the civilian population as well.3 The attack rate of rheumatic fever after such infections has been determined primarily from studies of epidemic, exudative pharyngitis or scarlet fever.4 5 6 Approximately 3 per cent of these infections have been followed by rheumatic fever.7 Within a given population, however, this rate has varied directly with the degree of the host's immune response to streptococcal disease. . . .