Empirical Validation of Guidelines for the Management of Pharyngitis in Children and Adults

Figure. Modified Centor Score and Culture Management Approach

The original Centor score¹⁰ provides an estimate for the probability of a positive culture and applies to adults only. One point is assigned to each of 4 criteria: temperature >38°C; absence of cough; swollen, tender anterior cervical nodes; and tonsillar exudate. The probability of a positive culture result for a Centor score of 0 is 2.5%; for a score of 1, 6%-6.9%; for a score of 2, 14.1%-16.6%; for a score of 3, 30.1%-34.1%; and for a score of 4, 55.7%. Adapted with permission.⁸