To the Editor: Pharyngitis, a common childhood illness, accounts for around 3% of presentations to general practice in Australia.1 Although usually benign and self‐limiting, group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis, isolated in up to 20% of symptomatic children,2 can lead to infectious and autoimmune sequelae. Despite Australia being a high income country, acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) still cause significant morbidity and mortality in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.3
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
We acknowledge the contribution of Asha Bowen to this review and analysis. Rosemary Wyber is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship (1151165).
No relevant disclosures.