THE PREVALENCE OF GROUP-A STREPTOCOCCAL THROAT CARRIAGE IN AL AIN, UNITED-ARAB-EMIRATES

The aim of this study was to establish the carrier rate of group A bet a haemolytic streptococci in school children in Al Ain, United Arab Em irates. One thousand and two randomly selected school children aged 5- 7 years had their throats swabbed twice for both culture and direct an tigen detection of group A streptococci. One hundred and fourteen chil dren (11.3%) had both a positive antigen and culture test, while 216 ( 21.6%) had antigen-positive tests only and 16 (1.5%) had a positive cu lture only. Thus, the combination of culture and antigen detection rev ealed a carrier rate of 35.4% in the children examined. We conclude th at in an affluent but isolated desert area on the Tropic of Cancer, gr oup A streptococcal carriage rate is high. Antigen detection is superi or to culture techniques in asymptomatic carrier studies.