Each patient was called by phone on a monthly basis
for 6 months after diagnosis. They were askedabout their current health status, how long they actually
took the prescribed antibiotic and to answer a
group of questions designed to detect all nonsuppurative
complications of GAS pharangitis. Including
acute rheumatic fever (ARF), scarlet fever, streptococcal
toxic shock syndrome (STSS), acute glomerulonephritis
(AGN), and pediatric autoimmune
neuropsychiatric disorder associated with group A
streptococci (PANDAS). Only the patients who fulfilled
the following criteria were included in the final
analysis: 1) ones who received the appropriate antibiotic
based on susceptibility testing for the right
duration; 2) parents complied fully when called for
the questionnaire; 3) accepted a re-examination for
further investigation and verification when a complication
was suspected