Spatiotemporal Trends in Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis in the United States.
Clin Infect Dis
; 78(5): 1345-1351, 2024 May 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38373257
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes an estimated 5.2 million outpatient visits for pharyngitis annually in the United States, with incidence peaking in winter, but the annual spatiotemporal pattern of GAS pharyngitis across the United States is poorly characterized.METHODS:
We used outpatient claims data from individuals with private medical insurance between 2010 and 2018 to quantify GAS pharyngitis visit rates across U.S. census regions, subregions, and states. We evaluated seasonal and age-based patterns of geographic spread and the association between school start dates and the summertime upward inflection in GAS visits.RESULTS:
The South had the most visits per person (yearly average, 39.11 visits per 1000 people; 95% confidence interval, 36.21-42.01) and the West had the fewest (yearly average, 17.63 visits per 1000 people; 95% confidence interval, 16.76-18.49). Visits increased earliest in the South and in school-age children. Differences in visits between the South and other regions were most pronounced in the late summer through early winter. Visits peaked earliest in central southern states, in December to January, and latest on the coasts, in March. The onset of the rise in GAS pharyngitis visits correlated with, but preceded, average school start times.CONCLUSIONS:
The burden and timing of GAS pharyngitis varied across the continental United States, with the South experiencing the highest overall rates and earliest onset and peak in outpatient visits. Understanding the drivers of these regional differences in GAS pharyngitis will help in identifying and targeting prevention measures.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Seasons
/
Streptococcal Infections
/
Streptococcus pyogenes
/
Pharyngitis
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos