Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease
Abstract Background Prompt and appropriate treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis decreases the risk of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Understanding public perceptions and behaviors related to sore throat is fundamental to inform health programs aimed at eliminating new cas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-017-2563-x |
| _version_ | 1819114971445854208 |
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| author | John Musuku Joyce C. Lungu Elizabeth Machila Catherine Jones Laurence Colin Sherri Schwaninger Patrick Musonda Brigitta Tadmor Jonathan M. Spector Mark E. Engel Liesl J. Zühlke |
| author_facet | John Musuku Joyce C. Lungu Elizabeth Machila Catherine Jones Laurence Colin Sherri Schwaninger Patrick Musonda Brigitta Tadmor Jonathan M. Spector Mark E. Engel Liesl J. Zühlke |
| author_sort | John Musuku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Prompt and appropriate treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis decreases the risk of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Understanding public perceptions and behaviors related to sore throat is fundamental to inform health programs aimed at eliminating new cases of RHD in endemic regions. We sought to describe the epidemiology of pediatric pharyngitis and its treatment, as reported by children and their parents or guardians in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods This was a cross-sectional investigation using interviews and written surveys, nested in a school-based RHD prevalence study. Students and their parents were asked to report number of sore throats in the previous 12 months, treatment received, and type and place of treatment. A focused history and physical examination to detect pharyngitis was conducted and children were referred for follow-up as indicated. Results A total of 3462 students from 47 schools participated in the study, along with their parents or guardians. Six hundred and fifty eight (19%) parents/guardians reported their child had at least one sore throat in the previous year, and 835 (24%) of students reported at least one sore throat in the same time period. Girls were reported to have pharyngitis 50% more often than boys, and also made up two-thirds of the total students treated. Approximately two-thirds of children who had at least one episode of pharyngitis during the previous year were also reported to have received some form of treatment. The majority of treatments were received in government clinics (36.6%) and at home (26.3%). Half of treatments included an antibiotic. Nineteen students (0.5%) had clinically-apparent pharyngitis at screening. Conclusion Pharyngitis is common among school-aged children and adolescents in Zambia, with females reporting significantly more sore throat episodes than males. Parents/guardians have variable knowledge about the frequency of sore throat in their children, and management of pharyngitis may be suboptimal for many children since more than a quarter were reported to have received treatment without skilled assessment. These results provide insight into current perceptions and practices related to sore throat in Zambia and will be used to design public awareness activities aimed at reducing RHD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:53:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43b5f7a80ed8482d858adfa8b71a6584 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:53:46Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-43b5f7a80ed8482d858adfa8b71a65842022-12-21T18:38:26ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342017-07-011711710.1186/s12879-017-2563-xEpidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart diseaseJohn Musuku0Joyce C. Lungu1Elizabeth Machila2Catherine Jones3Laurence Colin4Sherri Schwaninger5Patrick Musonda6Brigitta Tadmor7Jonathan M. Spector8Mark E. Engel9Liesl J. Zühlke10University Teaching HospitalUniversity Teaching HospitalUniversity Teaching HospitalNovartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchNovartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchNovartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchUniversity of ZambiaNovartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchNovartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchDepartment of Medicine, University of Cape TownDepartment of Paediatrics, Red Cross War Memorials Children’s Hospital, University of Cape TownAbstract Background Prompt and appropriate treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis decreases the risk of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Understanding public perceptions and behaviors related to sore throat is fundamental to inform health programs aimed at eliminating new cases of RHD in endemic regions. We sought to describe the epidemiology of pediatric pharyngitis and its treatment, as reported by children and their parents or guardians in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods This was a cross-sectional investigation using interviews and written surveys, nested in a school-based RHD prevalence study. Students and their parents were asked to report number of sore throats in the previous 12 months, treatment received, and type and place of treatment. A focused history and physical examination to detect pharyngitis was conducted and children were referred for follow-up as indicated. Results A total of 3462 students from 47 schools participated in the study, along with their parents or guardians. Six hundred and fifty eight (19%) parents/guardians reported their child had at least one sore throat in the previous year, and 835 (24%) of students reported at least one sore throat in the same time period. Girls were reported to have pharyngitis 50% more often than boys, and also made up two-thirds of the total students treated. Approximately two-thirds of children who had at least one episode of pharyngitis during the previous year were also reported to have received some form of treatment. The majority of treatments were received in government clinics (36.6%) and at home (26.3%). Half of treatments included an antibiotic. Nineteen students (0.5%) had clinically-apparent pharyngitis at screening. Conclusion Pharyngitis is common among school-aged children and adolescents in Zambia, with females reporting significantly more sore throat episodes than males. Parents/guardians have variable knowledge about the frequency of sore throat in their children, and management of pharyngitis may be suboptimal for many children since more than a quarter were reported to have received treatment without skilled assessment. These results provide insight into current perceptions and practices related to sore throat in Zambia and will be used to design public awareness activities aimed at reducing RHD.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-017-2563-xPharyngitisRheumatic heart diseaseZambiaCross-sectional study |
| spellingShingle | John Musuku Joyce C. Lungu Elizabeth Machila Catherine Jones Laurence Colin Sherri Schwaninger Patrick Musonda Brigitta Tadmor Jonathan M. Spector Mark E. Engel Liesl J. Zühlke Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease BMC Infectious Diseases Pharyngitis Rheumatic heart disease Zambia Cross-sectional study |
| title | Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease |
| title_full | Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease |
| title_short | Epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by Zambian school children and their families: implications for demand-side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease |
| title_sort | epidemiology of pharyngitis as reported by zambian school children and their families implications for demand side interventions to prevent rheumatic heart disease |
| topic | Pharyngitis Rheumatic heart disease Zambia Cross-sectional study |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-017-2563-x |
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