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Group A streptococcal infection in an Aboriginal community
Author(s) -
Nimmo Graeme R,
Tinniswood Ross D,
Nuttall Nichalas,
Baker Geoffrey M,
McDonald Beverley
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb137346.x
Subject(s) - carriage , medicine , throat culture , group a , cape , group b , streptococcus , biology , geography , pathology , archaeology , bacteria , genetics
Objective To determine whether group A streptococcal infection and poststreptococcal sequelae are still a significant health issue for Aboriginal communities. Design A cross‐sectional survey of streptococcal carriage, infection and antibody levels. Setting A north Queensland Aboriginal community. Participants One hundred and twenty preschool and school‐aged children (2 to 12 years of age) living in the Lockhart River Community on Cape York Peninsula. Results Pyoderma was present in 43% of the children and in 76% of these culture of skin lesions grew group A streptococci. Group A streptococci also grew from 13% of throat swabs, making a total of 36% of children culture positive. Anti‐streptolysin O and anti‐DNAase B levels were remarkably high and increased with age. Conclusions The evidence presented confirms a high level of group A streptococcal carriage and infection in children of the Lockhart River Community. Further investigation of this problem is warranted in other Aboriginal communities with a view to instituting appropriate control programs.