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Use of antibiotics for sore throat and incidence of quinsy

Use of antibiotics for sore throat and incidence of quinsy
Use of antibiotics for sore throat and incidence of quinsy
Background

Quinsy is the most common major suppurative complication of sore throat. Evidence on the effectiveness of antibiotics in preventing quinsy is sparse.

Aim

To assess the incidence of quinsy and the pattern of presentation, and to identify variables that predict the development of quinsy.

Design of study

Case-control study.

Setting

UK-wide primary care.

Method

Retrospective analysis of data from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) for the years 1995–1997.

Results

There were 606 recorded cases of patients with quinsy, but only 192 (31%) of these patients presented following an initially uncomplicated sore throat. Patients with quinsy were more likely to be aged 21–40 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7 to 3.6, compared with other ages), smokers (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.8 to 3.5), and male (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1 to 2.2). Quinsy developed very quickly for most patients (median of 2 days after tonsillitis and 3 days after a sore throat). For cases initially labelled as tonsillitis, there was a non-significant trend of antibiotics preventing quinsy (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3 to 1.3), but no evidence that antibiotics prevent quinsy for cases labelled as sore throat or pharyngitis (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.7 to 2.2).

Conclusion

Most patients with quinsy develop the condition rapidly, and many do not present with a respiratory tract infection to their GP first. The current low doses of antibiotics used in modern community settings may be less likely to protect against quinsy than the trial evidence suggests.
antibiotics, incidence, quinsy, sore throat
0960-1643
45-49
Dunn, Nick
181a3a1f-5ff7-4150-ad87-457fffb758ed
Lane, Dan
88c5f7c3-1bfd-45a9-9dc9-d5cfaac5e04c
Everitt, Hazel
80b9452f-9632-45a8-b017-ceeeee6971ef
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Dunn, Nick
181a3a1f-5ff7-4150-ad87-457fffb758ed
Lane, Dan
88c5f7c3-1bfd-45a9-9dc9-d5cfaac5e04c
Everitt, Hazel
80b9452f-9632-45a8-b017-ceeeee6971ef
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777

Dunn, Nick, Lane, Dan, Everitt, Hazel and Little, Paul (2007) Use of antibiotics for sore throat and incidence of quinsy. British Journal of General Practice, 57 (534), 45-49. (PMID:17244424)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background

Quinsy is the most common major suppurative complication of sore throat. Evidence on the effectiveness of antibiotics in preventing quinsy is sparse.

Aim

To assess the incidence of quinsy and the pattern of presentation, and to identify variables that predict the development of quinsy.

Design of study

Case-control study.

Setting

UK-wide primary care.

Method

Retrospective analysis of data from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) for the years 1995–1997.

Results

There were 606 recorded cases of patients with quinsy, but only 192 (31%) of these patients presented following an initially uncomplicated sore throat. Patients with quinsy were more likely to be aged 21–40 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7 to 3.6, compared with other ages), smokers (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.8 to 3.5), and male (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1 to 2.2). Quinsy developed very quickly for most patients (median of 2 days after tonsillitis and 3 days after a sore throat). For cases initially labelled as tonsillitis, there was a non-significant trend of antibiotics preventing quinsy (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3 to 1.3), but no evidence that antibiotics prevent quinsy for cases labelled as sore throat or pharyngitis (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.7 to 2.2).

Conclusion

Most patients with quinsy develop the condition rapidly, and many do not present with a respiratory tract infection to their GP first. The current low doses of antibiotics used in modern community settings may be less likely to protect against quinsy than the trial evidence suggests.

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More information

Published date: 1 January 2007
Keywords: antibiotics, incidence, quinsy, sore throat
Organisations: Primary Care & Population Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 66528
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/66528
ISSN: 0960-1643
PURE UUID: 43d07dd0-7c19-46e8-863d-c7d42f058d96
ORCID for Hazel Everitt: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7362-8403
ORCID for Paul Little: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3664-1873

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 29 Jun 2009
Last modified: 11 Jul 2024 01:39

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Contributors

Author: Nick Dunn
Author: Dan Lane
Author: Hazel Everitt ORCID iD
Author: Paul Little ORCID iD

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