Throat carriage of pneumococci in healthy school children in the Union Territory of Pondicherry

Background & objectives : Colonisation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the t hroat is common among children the world over. Little is known about the re lationship of nasopharyngeal carriage and invasive disease or the way it sp reads within the households and close confines. There is a paucity of data on the colonization of Strep. pneumoniae in the throat of healthy children in India. To determine the prevalence of pneumococcal carriage in school ch ildren of urban and rural Pondicherry, a study was undertaken. Methods : Throat swabs of healthy school-going children between 5-10 yr of age were examined for pneumococcal carriage, by standard bacteriological te chniques. Results : A prevalence rate of 24.3 per cent was noted. There was no differ ence in the carriage rate among the rural children when compared to urban c hildren. No age, sex or geographical predilection of pneumococcal carriage was noted. A statistically significant seasonal variation, however, was see n. Carriage rate increased during the colder months and was found to be the highest in the months of March and November. Interpretation & conclusions : Strep. pneumoniae circulates in the communit y among healthy children. Carriage rate is influenced by seasonal variation .