Streptococcal impetigo and acute glomerulonephritis in children in Cairo.

Impetigo contagiosa in Cairo affected young children of both sexes, the face being the main site. Post-impetigo nephritis, confirmed by a low serum C3 level and by urinalysis, occurred in only 11% of cases. Streptococcus pyogenes strains were recovered from 84% of the skin lesions. Sixteen types were identified according to their T-protein, and most infections were associated with T3/B3264, T13/B3264, T5, T11, T12, T8/25/Imp 19 and T14/49; the majority of these types were also recovered from houseflies. The types isolated from cases of post-impetigo nephritis were T4 (M 60), T14/49 (M49), T8/25/Imp 19 (mostly M 55) and T11. Seventy percent of the patients infected with T4 (M 60) and 40% of those infected with T14/49 (M 49) developed nephritis. Strains isolated from the skin bore a closer resemblance to those isolated from the nose than to those found in the throat. The ASO response was poor in uncomplicated impetigo but the titre rose more aften in post-impetigo nephritis.