This version was machine-translated from German and has not been medically reviewed. The authoritative version is the German version.
McIsaac score (sore throat)
Modified Centor score: probability of streptococcal pharyngitis, −1 to 5 points
What the guideline gives for the total
| Total | Designation according to source |
|---|---|
| −1 to 2 | Score ≤ 2 – the guideline mentions symptomatic therapy only (recommendation 9.9, item 1) |
| 3 | Score 3 – the guideline mentions antibiotic therapy only as “delayed prescribing” (recommendation 9.9, item 2); in children aged 3 to 15 years, a rapid test for group A streptococci can be used to decide on treatment (recommendation 9.10) |
| 4–5 | Score ≥ 4 – the guideline mentions “delayed prescribing” or immediate antibiotic therapy (recommendation 9.9, item 3); in children aged 3 to 15 years, a rapid test can be used (recommendation 9.10) |
Recommendation 9.9 applies to patients aged 3 years and older with acute sore throat (under 14 days) without red flags, when antibiotic therapy is considered or expected by the physician. Recommendation 9.10 adds the rapid test from score 3 for 3- to 15-year-olds.
Frequently asked questions
McIsaac score (sore throat): What does this calculator compute?
McIsaac score (modified Centor score): click fever, absent cough, tender cervical lymph nodes, tonsil findings and age – sum and classification according to the DEGAM S3 guideline on sore throat, with documentation text.
McIsaac score (sore throat): Which sources is this calculator based on?
German Society for General Practice and Family Medicine (DEGAM): S3 guideline Sore throat, DEGAM guideline no. 14 (AWMF register number 053-010), long version, as of October 2020, editorial change December 2021 – Chapter 8.2.1, recommendations 9.9 and 9.10 (2020); McIsaac WJ, White D, Tannenbaum D, Low DE: A clinical score to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in patients with sore throat (CMAJ 158:75–83) (1998)