Sore Throat Scoring

Question 1

What is in the CENTOR criteria?

Answer 1

Score 1 point for each (maximum score of 4)
Presence of tonsillar exudate
Tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis
History of fever
Absence of cough

Question 2

What is in the FeverPAIN criteria?

Answer 2

Score 1 point for each (maximum score of 5)
Fever over 38°C.
Purulence (pharyngeal/tonsillar exudate).
Attend rapidly (3 days or less)
Severely Inflamed tonsils
No cough or coryza

Question 3

When does NICE recommend antibiotics for sore throat?

Answer 3

features of marked systemic upset secondary to the acute sore throat
unilateral peritonsillitis
a history of rheumatic fever
an increased risk from acute infection (such as a child with diabetes mellitus or immunodeficiency)
3 or more Centor criteria are present
FeverPAIN 4-5

Question 4

What is the first and second line antibiotics for sore throat?

Answer 4

1st - phenoxymethylpenicillin
2nd - clarithromycin (if pen allergic)

Question 5

When would you consider a back-up antibiotic prescription (or no prescription), and what advice do you give about the back-up antibiotic?

Answer 5

Fever pain of 2-3
Take if symptoms don’t start to improve within 3-5 days time, or things worsen rapidly or significantly