ENTEROVIRAL PHARYNGITIS DIAGNOSED BY REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE-POLYMERASECHAIN-REACTION

The role of enteroviruses in childhood pharyngitis was investigated us ing enteroviral specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reacti on (RT-PCR). Viral/bacterial throat swabs were taken from 50 children with acute pharyngitis and 26 controls. A positive culture was identif ied in only 26% of children with pharyngitis (adenovirus 10%, group A streptococci 2%), and none of the controls. Enteroviral RT-PCR was pos itive in 8% of the pharyngitis group and none of the controls. Enterov iruses are an important cause of pharyngitis in childhood.