A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore:
- ENT medical examination [due todifferential diagnoses:
- Acute laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx).
- Acute pharyngitis (pharyngitis)
- Acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis)
- Chronic laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx).
- Chronic pharyngitis (pharyngitis)
- Chronic tonsillitis (deficiency inflammation)
- Epiglottis abscess – encapsulated collection of pus in the area of the epiglottis.
- Epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis)
- Palatine tonsillar hyperplasia – enlargement of the palatine tonsil.
- Laryngeal perichondritis – inflammation of the tissue surrounding the cartilage in the area of the larynx.
- Laryngeal phlegmon – diffuse inflammation of the connective tissue surrounding the larynx.
- Parapharyngeal abscess – encapsulated accumulation of pus in the throat.
- Peritonsillar abscess – encapsulated collection of pus in the area of the tonsils (lymphatic pharyngeal ring).
- Peritonsillitis – inflammation of the tonsils and surrounding tissue]
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
McIsaac score (modified Centor score): predictor of GABHS tonsillopharyngitis for patients aged 3 to 14 years.
| Symptom | Points |
| Body temperature (in the medical history) > 38 °C | 1 |
| no cough | 1 |
| cervical (“belonging to the neck”) lymph node enlargement | 1 |
| Tonsil enlargement or exudate. | 1 |
| Age: 3-14 years | 1 |
| 15-44 years of life | 0 |
| ≥ 45 years of life | -1 |
| McIsaac score (modified Centor score) point total | Probability of GABHS detection in throat swab. |
| -1 or 0 | 1 % |
| 1 | 10 % |
| 2 | ∼ 17 % |
| 3 | ∼ 35 % |
| 4 or 5 | ∼ 50 % |
Centor score: predictor of GABHS tonsillopharyngitis for patients ≥ 15 years of age.
| Symptom | Points |
| Body temperature (in the medical history) > 38 °C | 1 |
| No cough | 1 |
| Cervical lymph node enlargement | 1 |
| Tonsil enlargement or exudate. | 1 |
| Centor scoreSum of points | Probability of GABHS detection in throat swab. |
| 0 | ∼ 2,5 % |
| 1 | ∼ 6-7 % |
| 2 | ∼ 15 % |
| 3 | ∼ 30-35 % |
| 4 | ∼ 50-60 % |
Legend: GABHS = group A beta-hemolytic streptococci.