Which symptom is NOT used in the Centor Criteria?

The Centor Criteria is utilized to help determine the likelihood of streptococcal pharyngitis and guides clinical decision-making regarding testing and treatment. The criteria include the presence of certain symptoms that are characteristic of this condition.

Fever, lymphadenopathy, and tonsillar exudates are all classic symptoms associated with streptococcal throat infections and are included in the Centor Criteria. Fever indicates an infectious process, lymphadenopathy suggests regional infection or inflammation, and tonsillar exudates are a direct indication of the presence of infection, often associated with streptococcal tonsillitis.

In contrast, a rash is not a symptom included in the Centor Criteria for evaluating streptococcal pharyngitis. While a rash can occur in some cases of streptococcal infection, such as scarlet fever, it is not a reliable indicator for making the initial diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis within the framework of the Centor Criteria. Therefore, the inclusion of a rash in this context is not beneficial for assessing the likelihood of streptococcal throat infection.