Actualización del diagnóstico de la faringoamigdalitis por estreptococo del grupo A en población pediátrica: revisión sistemática de la literatura

Authors

Angela Mishell Elizalde Bravo
Anthony Joel Pilapaña Pillajo
María Belén Rojas Remache
María Mercedes Calderón Paz
David Gerardo Carrillo Vaca

Abstract

Introduction: Acute pharyngotonsillitis is one of the most frequent reasons for pediatric consultation, with group A streptococcus (GAS) being the most common bacterial pathogen, carrying a significant burden in school-aged children. Differential diagnosis is complex due to the overlap of symptoms with viral infections, which has driven the search for more accurate and rapid diagnostic methods. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA methodology, consulting the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Fifteen studies published between 2020 and 2026 that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Results: The findings demonstrated that rapid point-of-care molecular diagnosis (POCT) using isothermal amplification and polymerase chain reaction is significantly more effective than traditional methods in detecting Streptococcus pyogenes, achieving sensitivities and negative predictive values of up to 100%. Discussion: Consolidated evidence indicates that molecular technology is a powerful complementary strategy, although its implementation presents challenges related to cost, logistical variability, and the potential risk of overdiagnosis due to the detection of asymptomatic carriers. Conclusions: It is suggested that institutional policies and epidemiological standardizations be promoted to facilitate its adoption and guide the rational use of antimicrobials to maximize its impact on children's health.

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