Pharyngitis encompasses infection or irritation of the pharynx and tonsils. Rarely found in infants younger than 1 year and uncommon in infants younger than 2 years, the illness peaks between ages 4 to 7 years but recurs throughout life, especially whenever people congregate and in the winter months.<sup>9 Denny F.W. Current management of streptococcal pharyngitis J Fam Pract 1992 ;  35 : 619

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Viral agents are the usual culprits.<sup>7 Cherry J.D. Pharyngitis (pharyngitis, tonsillitis, tonsillopharyngitis, and nasopharyngitis) Pediatric Infectious Diseases Philadelphia: Saunders (1992).  159

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 21 Gwaltney J.M. Pharyngitis Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases New York: Churchill-Livingstone (1995).  566

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Although group A β-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) causes only 15% of all pharyngitis, it is the usual bacterial cause and may cause significant nonsuppurative sequelae in the form of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) or acute glomerulonephritis (AGN). All types of pharyngitis can lead to suppurative complications including cervical lymphadenitis, peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, sinusitis, and otitis media.