A 4-year-old child presents with her third episode of acute exudative tonsillitis in six months. Throat swab culture in the current episode yields the most common bacterial pathogen responsible for acute recurrent tonsillitis in children. Which organism is this?
- A Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes ✓
- B Staphylococcus aureus
- C Haemophilus influenzae type b
- D Moraxella catarrhalis
Correct answer: A. Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes
Explanation
Group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes is the most important and most commonly tested bacterial cause of acute recurrent tonsillitis in children, and it carries the risk of rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis, making eradication mandatory with penicillin or amoxicillin. Staphylococcus aureus and Moraxella catarrhalis may colonize the tonsillar crypts but are not the classic pathogen of true exudative tonsillitis.
Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.