Revista de la Sociedad Venezolana de Microbiología
versão impressa ISSN 1315-2556
Resumo
HERNANDEZ, Vianellys et al. Antistreptolysin О in school children at Aragua State, Venezuela. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2012, vol.32, n.1, pp.13-17. ISSN 1315-2556.
Antistreptolysin О (ASO) is used as a diagnostic method for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) infections. This bacterium produces pharyngitis and tonsillitis and can lead to rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis sequelae, which can be prevented by opportune diagnosis and treatment. A group of 125 healthy children with ages between 6 and 9 years from the Francisco Linares Alcántara municipality, were tested by carrying out a throat culture and determination of ASO titers. None of them were asymptomatic GABHS carriers, nevertheless, 0.8% group C beta-hemolytic streptococci, and 0.8% group F beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated. On the other hand, 88.8% of children presented titers under 166 Todd Units/mL and 10.4% a titers of 333 Todd Units/mL, establishing this last one as possible reference value for the study population, which differs from those of diagnostic equipments used in the country, which have values obtained from other countries and with samples from adult specimens. This supports the fact that reference values should be established for each population, so that an assertive and early diagnosis can be done, avoiding possible post-streptococci sequelae
Palavras-chave : antistreptolysin O; students; pharyngitis; Streptococcus; reference values.