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Pharyngitis can be better managed when the attending physician is aware of the limitations of the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities involved. Greater emphasis should be placed on the population at risk of developing rheumatic fever. The throat swab is not diagnostic because one-third of school children are asymptomatic carriers of Strep. pyogenes. Most adults with pharyngitis should not be given antibiotics. The population most at risk are school children living in high density, low socioeconomic urban areas and prevention of rheumatic fever is probably best achieved by public health measures.
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