Acute Streptococcal Pharyngitis: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: None written.

Differential Diagnoses include: Kawasaki Disease, Viral Pharyngitis

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Acute Streptococcal Pharyngitis are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Sensitive and Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Throat Culture	100%	100%	Study: JAMA. 2004 Apr 7;291(13):1587-95. PMID: 15069046
Modified Centor Criteria	85%	92%	=>2 criteria: history of objective fever (>38C) exudative pharyngitis lack of cough tender cervical LAD +1 for <=15 years old, -1 for >45 years old Differential Diagnosis: Viral Pharyngitis Study: CMAJ. 2000 Oct 3;163(7):811-5. PMID: 11033707 rather similar results also in JAMA. 2004 Apr 7;291(13):1587-95. PMID: 15069046
Rapid Streptococcal Antigen Test Duplicate	91.1%	89%	Study: no study specified.

Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Rapid Streptococcal Antigen Test Duplicate	83%	99%	Study: JAMA. 2004 Apr 7;291(13):1587-95. PMID: 15069046
hearing loss	20%	93%	>100.5F Study: Acad Emerg Med. 2000 Oct;7(10):1104-9. PMID: 11015241
Centor Criteria Duplicate	15%	90%	=4 criteria: subjective or objective fever (>38C) exudative pharyngitis lack of cough tender cervical LAD Study: Br J Gen Pract. 2005 Aug;55(517):615-9. PMID: 16105370

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Physical Exam	71%	77%	all 4: Tender Adenopathy, Pharyngeal Exudates, Pharyngeal Erythema, and Enlarged Tonsils Study: Acad Emerg Med. 2000 Oct;7(10):1104-9. PMID: 11015241
Centor Criteria Duplicate	33%	77%	=3 criteria: subjective or objective fever (>38C) exudative pharyngitis lack of cough tender cervical LAD Study: Br J Gen Pract. 2005 Aug;55(517):615-9. PMID: 16105370
Centor Criteria Duplicate	48%	67%	>=3 criteria: subjective or objective fever (>38C) exudative pharyngitis lack of cough tender cervical LAD Study: Br J Gen Pract. 2005 Aug;55(517):615-9. PMID: 16105370