Acute pharyngitis

• Facts:
  Viral causes are more common (90% in adults)
  Need to rule out streptococcal pharyngitis ( centor criteria )
• History / PE:
  Typical Strep
  Fever, sore throat, pharyngeal erythema
  Tonsillar exudate, soft palate petechiae
  
  Atypical Strep
  Coryza, hoarseness, cough, GI symptoms
• Diagnosis:
  Clinical evaluation
  Rapid GAS antigen detection
  Throat culture
• Treatment:
  Penicillin for 10 days (GAS)
  
• Complications:
  Nonsuppurative
  
  Rheumatic fever
  Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
  
  Suppurative
  
  Cervical lymphadenitis
  Mastoiditis
  Retropharyngeal or peritonsillar abscesses
  Lemierre's syndrome
  Peritonsillar abscess
• Differential Diagnosis:
  Mononucleosis