Distribution of beta haemolytic streptococci in pharyngitis specimens obtained from children

One hundred and nine isolates of beta haemolytic streptococci were recovered from 840 (13%) pharyngeal cultures obtained from children with acute pharyngitis. Seventy-four percent of these were group A, 4% were group B, 9% were group C, 1% were group D, 4.5% were group F, and 5.5% were group G. The significance of non-group A isolates in pharyngitis could not be evaluated in the absence of viral and serological studies. However, these findings demonstrate the predominance of group A beta haemolytic streptococci in acute pharyngitis in children, as compared to findings in adults.