Asymptomatic carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes among school children in Sana’a city, Yemen

OBJECTIVES: Streptococcus pyogenes is the most frequent cause of pharyngitis and skin infections in children. It is also the causative agent of dangerous immune-complications such as rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease which are common in Yemen. The aim of this study was to determine the throat carriage rate of Streptococcus pyogenes among asymptomatic school children in Sana’a city. RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December to March of years 2012–2016. A total of 813 asymptomatic school children whose antistreptolysin O test was negative were included. The mean age of the students was 10.5 ± 2.8 years with a range from 5 to 15 years old. Throat swab and blood sample were taking from each student. One hundred and four (12.8%) healthy students were found to be Streptococcus pyogenes carriers. Pharyngeal Streptococcus pyogenes carriage rate was statistically insignificant among different age groups. However, it was found to be more common among females (66, 15%) than males (38, 10%) with statistically significant difference (χ(2) = 4.52, P = 0.04). This study showed a high asymptomatic carriage rate of Streptococcus pyogenes in the throat of healthy school children in Sana’a city, Yemen.