The current evidence for the burden of group A streptococcal diseases
Overview
Group A streptococcus (GAS) causes a broad spectrum of disease, from severe invasive infections and the post-streptococcal complications of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) to mild superficial infections of the throat or skin. This review conducts a systematic review into diseases caused by this organism and summarizes the global disease burden estimates. It looks into the quality of data, its limitations and advocates for better quality studies especially from neglected regions of the world.