METHODSFrom the Society of Pediatri

METHODS
From the Society of Pediatrics and Otorhinolaryngology of São Paulo State we randomly selected 1,370 pediatricians and 1,000 otorhinolaryngologists from São Paulo. From August to November of 2006, we mailed to these specialists a form with the following issues:
a) Professional profile: gender; year of graduation; academic title; place of work (São Paulo City or town in the country/coast); type of activity (in private clinic, public health care institution, university hospital, day-care, orphanage, etc.).
b) "As you see a previously healthy child with acute symptoms of sore throat and fever, and during the physical exam you notice hyperemia and exudate in the palatine tonsils, do you routinely order some laboratorial exam for diagnosis before starting treatment? (it is possible to have more than one answer)".
Answer alternatives were: does not order tests; orders CBC; orders oropharyngeal secretion culture and antibiogram; orders the quick strep test to detect Streptococcus pyogenes on the oropharynx (please state whether you do the test in your office or if you refer the patient to a lab); order anti-streptolysin O (ASLO) levels, or other tests (please specify).
c) Your opinion about the quick strep test to detect Streptococcus pyogenes in the diagnosis of cases of acute pharyngotonsillitis in children in your daily practice. Possible answers: the test is useful in all cases; useful only in cases when there is no visible purulent effusion in the tonsils; useful only in institutionalized children (day-care and orphanages); or you do not use the test because it is not available in the region where you practice.