To diagnose the origin of angina, and determine whether it is viral or bacterial, doctors have a rapid diagnostic orientation test for angina (TROD angina). In particular, it allows you to know if the sore throat you are suffering from is bacterial angina due to streptococcus group A, which requires treatment with antibiotics.
The goal ? Limit the prescription of antibiotics at a time when, according to the Ministry of Health, “about 10% of antibiotic prescriptions correspond to a treatment for angina while 80% of anginas are due to viruses, therefore do not require antibiotics” underlines the Ministry of Health in a press release. Rapid angina tests therefore make it possible to take antibiotics only when necessary and to preserve their effectiveness by avoiding bacterial resistance to antibiotics”.
Good news : From 1er July 2021, these rapid angina tests can once again be carried out in community pharmacies (their production had been suspended in March 2020 due to covid-19) and they will also be covered by Health Insurance.
How’s it going ? The Rapid Diagnostic Orientation Test (TROD) takes the form of a sample taken from the patient’s throat using a long cotton swab. The sample is analyzed using liquid reagents – the results can be read after 5-10 minutes. According to the color that this strip takes, the doctor knows whether or not the angina is due to a streptococcus of group A.
- During the consultation, the general practitioner, the pediatrician or the ENT can directly perform the rapid angina test on the patient.
- In pharmacies, the pharmacist may also, from the 1er July, perform this test when the symptoms presented by the patient justify it, in the absence of prior medical consultation, in children aged 10 and over, and in adults. In the event of a positive test result, the pharmacist will refer the patient to his doctor. If the test reveals bacterial angina, the pharmacist will refer the patient to a doctor to prescribe antibiotics.
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