1. Age and sex-specific incidence rates of group A streptococcal pharyngitis between 2010 and 2018: a population-based study.
- Author
-
Mponponsuo K, Church DL, Lu SJ, Viczko J, Naugler C, McDonald T, Dickinson J, and Somayaji R
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Distribution, Aged, Canada epidemiology, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Distribution, Young Adult, Pharyngitis epidemiology, Streptococcal Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Aim: Group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis is a common clinical infection with significant morbidity but remains understudied. Materials & methods: We sought to assess the rates of testing and incidence of GAS pharyngitis in Calgary, Alberta based on age and sex. Results: A total of 1,074,154 tests were analyzed (58.8% female, mean age 24.8 years) of which 16.6% were positive. Age-standardized testing and positivity was greatest in the 5-14 years age group and lowest in persons over 75 years. Females had greater rates of testing and positivity throughout. Testing rates (incidence rate ratios: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.39-1.41) and case rates (incidence rate ratios: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.33-1.39) increased over time. Conclusion: Future studies should focus on evaluating disparities in testing and treatment outcomes to optimize the approach to this infection.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF