Pharyngitis

Question 1

What is pharyngitis?

Answer 1

Infection of tonsils and/or the pharynx

Question 2

Which is more commonly the cause of pharyngitis: viral or bacterial species?

Answer 2

VIRAL

Question 3

What is the difference in location of adenopathy for strep pharyngitis vs mononucleosis pharyngitis?

Answer 3

Strep = ANTERIOR cervical adenopathy

Mono = POSTERIOR cervical adenopathy

Question 4

What are the 5 CENTOR criteria and when would a patient with pharyngitis be started on antibiotics?

Answer 4

Criteria used to determine likelihood of bacterial pharyngitis

Temp > 100.4 F (38 C) = 1 point
Absence of cough = 1 point
Swollen anterior LNs = 1 point
Tonsillar swelling/exudate = 1 point

3-14 years old = 1 point
15-44 years old = 0 points

> 4 points = treat empirically
2-3 points = test and treat if positive