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Infectious

Centor Score (McIsaac modified)

Estimates the likelihood of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to guide testing and antibiotics, with McIsaac age adjustment.

Scope: A probability aid, not a diagnosis. Confirm with rapid antigen test or throat culture before antibiotics where feasible.

Inputs

FieldUnitNotes
Temperature >38°C (history or measured)
Absence of cough
Tender/swollen anterior cervical nodes
Tonsillar swelling or exudate
Age

FAQ

What is the Centor Score (McIsaac modified)?

Estimates the likelihood of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to guide testing and antibiotics, with McIsaac age adjustment.

What inputs does the Centor Score (McIsaac modified) need?

Temperature >38°C (history or measured), Absence of cough, Tender/swollen anterior cervical nodes, Tonsillar swelling or exudate, Age.

Are there any limitations?

A probability aid, not a diagnosis. Confirm with rapid antigen test or throat culture before antibiotics where feasible.

Related guides

Centor / McIsaac Score: Pretest Probability of Strep Pharyngitis

How to use the McIsaac-modified Centor score to estimate group A strep pharyngitis risk, apply the age adjustment, and decide when to test rather than treat empirically.

Related Infectious calculators

Bacterial Meningitis Score (Children)

Identifies children with CSF pleocytosis who are at very low risk of bacterial (vs aseptic) meningitis (Nigrovic).

FeverPAIN Score (Pharyngitis)

Estimates the likelihood of streptococcal pharyngitis to guide antibiotic decisions (0–5).

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