Sore throat

Summary of changes

Medicines

• Regarding benzathine benzylpenicillin dose added that if dose for RHD given in previous 7 days to do a medical consult. National RHD guidelines note that: 'Individuals already receiving BPG secondary prophylaxis still need active treatment of sore throats or skin sores. This is necessary because the level of penicillin achieved by BPG wanes by about 7 days to reach a prophylactic level which is lower than a required treatment level. If the last BPG dose was ≥7 days ago, provide antibiotic dosing in accordance with Table 5.2 for sore throat or Table 5.3 for skin sores.'

Primary references

1. Expert Groups for Antibiotic, version 16 (2021) Antibiotic, Therapeutic Guidelines, accessed 21 May 2021.

2. National Health and Medical Research Council (2013) Staying Healthy Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services, 5th edition, accessed 5 October 2022.

3. Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia (ARF/RHD writing group) (2020) The 2020 Australian guideline for prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, 3rd edition, accessed 11 January 2022.