features suggesting an infective cause for a sore throat
Last reviewed 01/2018
Features suggesting an infective cause for a sore throat include:
- fever - makes infection the likely cause, although lack of fever does not exclude infection
- pathology of the oropharynx:
- quinsy is a bacterial complication
- peritonsillar cellulitis particularly unilateral may have a bacterial aetiology - research evidence would be valuable
- palatal petechae occur in glandular fever
- Koplik's spots of measles
- blisters of herpes simplex, foot and mouth
- cervical glands:
- large cervical glands make a diagnosis of glandular fever more likely
- occipital glands point to rubella
- skin rashes may point to viral or bacterial aetiology
Centor criteria to aid diagnosis of Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus