RESUMEN
Respiratory tract infections rank first as causes of adult and paediatric infectious morbidity in primary care in Spain. These infections are usually self-limiting and are mainly caused by viruses. However, a high percentage of unnecessary antibiotic prescription is reported. Point-of-care tests are biomedical tests, which can be used near the patient, without interference of a laboratory. The use of these tests, many of which have been recently developed, is rapidly increasing in general practice. Notwithstanding, we must mull over whether they always contribute to an effective and high-quality diagnostic process by primary care clinicians. We present a set of criteria that can be used by clinicians and discuss the pros and cons of the instruments available for the management of respiratory tract infections and how to use them appropriately.
RESUMEN
An update of the Spanish consensus document on the diagnosis and treatment of acute tonsillopharyngitis is presented. Clinical scores should not be used to prescribe antibiotics, unless microbiological tests are not available or there is a child at risk of rheumatic fever. There is no score better than those set out in the previous consensus. Microbiological tests are recommended in proposed cases, regardless of the result of the scores. Penicillin is the treatment of choice, prescribed twice a day for 10 days. Amoxicillin is the first alternative, prescribed once or twice a day for the same time. First-generation cephalosporins are the treatment of choice in children with non-immediate reaction to penicillin or amoxicillin. Josamycin and midecamycin are the best options for children with immediate penicillin allergic reactions, when non-beta-lactam antibiotics should be used. In microbiological treatment failure, and in streptococcal carriers, the treatments proposed in the previous consensus are still applicable.