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An analysis was carried out of the dynamics of circulation of the beta-haemolytic streptococcus in pre-school and in school children in the first two years of primary school. The study was performed simultaneously in two groups of children (an experimental and a control group) and allowed, after confrontation of the results obtained, to evaluate correctly the investigations performed, that is the detection of the acute disease and of healthy carriers by bacteriological examinations and early detection of post-streptococcal complications with the aid of serologic examinations (ASLO). The importance is stressed, of living conditions in the family and at school, as well as of individual factors (hereditary, hormonal, immunologic, etc.) in the development of late complications. Thus the measures proposed by the authors are aimed not only at the medical aspects, but also to the social-organizatoric ones.

In order to find methods for the prevention and control of streptococcal infections of 711 day schoolchildren and boarders, aged 7 to 14 years, were followed up during the 1969-1973 period. The clinical and epidemiologic investigations revealed a great number of acute infections with varied clinical manifestations and high proportions of the acute articular rheumatism (3.1%) in the boarding schools as compared to the day schools (0.5%). The bacteriologic examinations confirmed and established the etiology of the cases, revealing moreover the role of carriers in maintaining and spreading the infection. The ASLO test showed persistent and high gammaglobulin titers in the children of the boarding schools, pointing to a state of hypersensitivity consequent to repeated streptococcal infections.