centor_score_modified: Centor Score (Modified/McIsaac) for Strep Pharyngitis

In cliot: Clinical Indices and Outcomes Tools

Centor Score (Modified/McIsaac) for Strep Pharyngitis

Description

Calculates the Modified Centor (McIsaac) Score to estimate the probability that pharyngitis is caused by Group A Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) and to guide testing and antibiotic therapy. This modification adjusts the original Centor criteria for patient age.

Usage

centor_score_modified(age, tonsillar_exudate, tender_anterior_cervical_adenopathy,
                      fever_history, absence_of_cough)

Arguments

age	Numeric. Patient age in years. 3-14 years: +1 point. 15-44 years: 0 points. >= 45 years: -1 point.
tonsillar_exudate	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of tonsillar swelling or exudate. (1 = Yes, +1 point).
tender_anterior_cervical_adenopathy	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy. (1 = Yes, +1 point).
fever_history	Numeric (0 or 1). History of fever (> 38 C / 100.4 F). (1 = Yes, +1 point).
absence_of_cough	Numeric (0 or 1). Absence of cough. (1 = Yes/Absent, +1 point).

Value

A list containing:

Centor_Score	The calculated score (Range -1 to 5).
Strep_Probability	Estimated risk of streptococcal infection.
Management_Guideline	Recommendations regarding Rapid Antigen Detection Testing (RADT), culture, and antibiotics.

References

McIsaac WJ, Kellner JD,ont P, Esmail A, et al. Empirical validation of guidelines for the management of pharyngitis in children and adults. JAMA. 2004;291(13):1587-1595. doi:10.1001/jama.291.13.1587

Centor RM, Witherspoon JM, Dalton HP, Brody CE, Link K. The diagnosis of strep throat in adults in the emergency room. Med Decis Making. 1981;1(3):239-246. doi:10.1177/0272989x8100100304

Examples

# Example 1: High Risk Child
# 10yo (+1), Exudate (+1), Nodes (+1), No Fever (0), No Cough (+1)
# Score = 4
centor_score_modified(10, 1, 1, 0, 1)

# Example 2: Low Risk Adult
# 50yo (-1), No Exudate, No Nodes, Fever (+1), Cough present (0)
# Score = 0
centor_score_modified(50, 0, 0, 1, 0)

cliot documentation built on Dec. 1, 2025, 1:06 a.m.