Strep Throat

Researchers are conducting a phase 1, first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety, tolerability, and immune response of the VAX-A1 vaccine in healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years. The study aims to understand how the vaccine affects the immune system and monitor any side effects in this healthy young adult population. Participants are assigned to one of four groups receiving either low, mid, or high doses of VAX-A1 or placebo. Each participant receives two intramuscular injections, one on Day 1 and another at Month 2. The study follows a dose-escalation design to carefully evaluate different vaccine doses compared to placebo. Throughout the study, participants will be closely monitored for local and systemic reactions up to 7 days after each vaccination, as well as any adverse events for up to 8 months after the first dose. Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to evaluate immune responses and safety laboratory tests. Participants will also complete an electronic diary to help track symptoms and reactions, with follow-up visits continuing through the study duration until 6 months after the second dose.

This research aims to evaluate whether using the Difflam Forte Anti-Inflammatory Throat Spray, containing benzydamine hydrochloride, can reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat POST in women undergoing gynecological surgery with general anesthesia using a laryngeal mask airway LMA. POST is a common issue caused mainly by mechanical injury to the airway mucosa during airway insertion, leading to inflammation and discomfort. The study will compare patients receiving Difflam spray after surgery to those receiving usual care with no intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the study group will receive four sprays of Difflam to the back of the throat while awake in the post-anesthesia care unit, and the control group will receive no intervention. Questionnaires will be given to assess pain levels and any side effects 10 minutes and 4 hours after intervention. The trial will include 106 women undergoing surgery at a single hospital and will collect demographic and airway data during surgery. During the study, participants will be monitored for sore throat incidence and pain severity using a visual analog scale shortly after surgery and at 4 hours postoperatively. Side effects related to the spray will also be recorded. This information will help determine if Difflam spray is suitable for routine use to improve recovery and patient comfort after general anesthesia with LMA. The total study duration extends until the end of 2027.

This research aims to evaluate whether chewing gum and cold water gargling can ease common throat discomforts, such as sore throat and difficulty swallowing, experienced after bronchoscopy. The study compares these simple interventions against standard care to see if they improve patient comfort and satisfaction following the procedure. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups chewing sugar-free xylitol gum for 15 minutes before bronchoscopy, gargling cold water 8-12C twice for 30 seconds each before the procedure, or receiving the usual care without additional treatments. The chewing gum and cold water gargle are supervised by researchers who provide instructions and ensure proper procedure. Participants symptoms and satisfaction will be assessed before bronchoscopy, then at 2 hours and 24 hours after the procedure. The 24-hour follow-up will be done by phone. Researchers will measure the severity of sore throat and swallowing difficulty along with patient satisfaction, aiming to understand if these interventions affect recovery and comfort. The study starts with standard fasting and includes routine education about bronchoscopy.

This research aims to compare whether using different sizes of tracheal catheters causes less sore throat in women after thyroid surgery. It involves female patients aged 18 to 65 years with physical health status ranging from ASA I to III, all scheduled for thyroid surgery under general anesthesia. The study focuses on evaluating sore throat incidence and severity following the procedure. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups, each receiving a tracheal catheter with a different inner diameter 6.0 mm, 6.5 mm, or the traditional 7.0 mm size. The study monitors how each catheter size affects postoperative sore throat at multiple time points after surgery, specifically at 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. During the study, researchers record the presence and severity of sore throat at these times to assess differences among the groups. The trial includes women undergoing elective thyroid surgery under general anesthesia who meet the eligibility criteria. The study is expected to run until October 2026, with participant involvement mainly around the surgery and follow-up sore throat assessments.

Researchers are evaluating whether skipping tracheal suctioning right before removing a breathing tube is as safe as routine suctioning for adult patients aged 18 to 90 who undergo planned surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. The study aims to see if avoiding suctioning affects early oxygen levels after the tube is removed and whether it impacts cough severity, sore throat, and other related side effects. Participants are randomly divided into two groups one receiving routine suctioning inside the trachea and throat just before extubation, and the other receiving suctioning only in the throat without inserting the suction catheter into the trachea. All patients receive standard anesthesia care and are monitored in the post-anesthesia care unit PACU for 60 minutes after extubation. Airway symptoms and satisfaction are checked again 24 hours after surgery. During the study, participants will have their oxygen levels monitored closely for the first hour after extubation, along with assessments of coughing, sore throat severity, nausea, vomiting, and any extubation-related problems. Researchers will also record oxygen therapy needs and patient satisfaction at 24 hours. Safety monitoring continues up to 6 hours post-PACU arrival. Overall participation involves the surgery day and a follow-up at 24 hours post-surgery.

Researchers are studying periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis PFAPA syndrome and other tonsil disorders, which are common causes of periodic fever in children. The study aims to understand how PFAPA develops by collecting genetic, immunologic, cellular, molecular, and microbial data from affected individuals. This observational study seeks to identify risk factors and immune responses related to these conditions. Participants with PFAPA or other tonsil disorders will provide various specimens, including blood, saliva, mucus, stool, and cells from the nose or mouth. Tissue samples may also be collected if participants undergo tonsil or adenoid removal surgery. Specimens can be collected either in person at study sites or remotely through local health providers. Some participants may have optional follow-up visits over a period of up to 10 years. During the study, medical records will be reviewed and family history of PFAPA will be collected. Researchers will analyze genetic variations, immune cell populations, gene and protein expression, and microbiota in tissues and samples. Outcomes include understanding immune responses, molecular pathways, and clinical effects after tonsillectomy or other treatments. The study involves specimen collection, clinical evaluations, and long-term monitoring.

Researchers are evaluating the use of gabapentin to reduce pain after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children aged 3 to 18 years. This pilot study aims to see if a single preoperative dose of gabapentin decreases the amount of narcotic pain medicine needed in the first 48 hours after surgery. It also compares the timing of the first pain medicine dose and pain scores at 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery using pain scales like Wong Baker and a numeric distress scale. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 50 children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy will be randomly assigned to receive either one dose of gabapentin 15 mgkg up to 600 mg or a placebo before surgery. Both groups will receive the usual narcotic pain treatment during surgery. After surgery, younger children will be guided to take Tylenol and Motrin, while teenagers will get a narcotic prescription. The study will measure the amount of each pain medicine used and the time to first pain medicine. Participants will be monitored through phone calls with a research nurse for three days after surgery to collect pain scores at specified times. Researchers will track the total narcotic consumption during the first 48 hours after surgery as the main outcome. The study also looks at the timing of the first pain medicine and pain levels at 12, 24, and 48 hours. This detailed follow-up helps evaluate how gabapentin affects pain control in children after these common surgeries.

This research aims to understand why some children become carriers of Group A streptococcus GAS and whether those carriers need antibiotic treatment. The study focuses on differences in GAS bacteria between children with acute infection and those who carry the bacteria without symptoms. Researchers will examine genetic and transcriptional changes in the bacteria to learn how it behaves in these two states. Children aged 5 to 15 years with acute pharyngitis caused by GAS are eligible. Participants will be tested using a rapid antigen detection test and throat cultures at study entry, after 14 days, and again after 14 to 21 days if initial follow-up tests are positive. The study involves collecting samples to analyze the bacterias gene expression and genome. Participants will undergo throat swabs and sample collections at specified times to identify who are carriers of GAS. Researchers will measure the presence of GAS bacteria and study their genetic profiles over time. The studys main outcome is identifying children who carry GAS bacteria in their throat after initial infection. The total participation time is around two weeks for primary outcome measurement.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding lateral pharyngoplasty to tonsillectomy provides better outcomes for children aged 3 to 17 years undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. The study aims to find out if this combined procedure leads to less pain, improved eating and drinking after surgery, and a lower risk of bleeding complications compared to tonsillectomy alone. This randomized controlled trial seeks to establish lateral pharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy as a standard care option if benefits are confirmed. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will have extracapsular tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, while the other group will receive the same surgery plus lateral pharyngoplasty. The lateral pharyngoplasty involves placing two figure-of-8 sutures using 3-0 vicryl to bring together the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars, reconstructing the mucosal covering of the lateral pharyngeal walls. The surgery and procedures will be performed under medical supervision as part of the trial. During the study, parents will help track their childs pain levels, use of pain medications, daily oral intake amounts, and any complications after surgery. Researchers will monitor participants from immediately after surgery through six weeks post-operation, focusing on pain levels, bleeding incidents that require or do not require surgical intervention, and the time it takes for the child to resume normal eating and drinking. This monitoring helps assess the safety and recovery experience between the two surgical approaches.

Researchers are conducting an observational study to assess the performance and safety of OROSEDAL, an oral spray medical device, in children and adults with sore throat or minor oral lesions such as minor aphthous ulcers and oral lichen planus. This study takes place in real-life general practice settings and includes patients aged 8 years and older who have had symptoms for less than 15 days and significant pain levels. The goal is to gather real-world information on how OROSEDAL is used and its effects on pain and discomfort. Participants are those who have been prescribed OROSEDAL independently of the study. They will use the product as directed, and data will be collected at the start, daily through self-assessment diaries, and at Day 6 7 days or upon early study exit. The study focuses on pain relief, swallowing discomfort, treatment use, safety, device performance, and patient compliance in typical care settings. During the study, participants will record their pain, swallowing discomfort, symptoms, and any adverse events daily. Researchers will evaluate pain reduction at Day 1 evening as the primary outcome and assess additional measures such as pain at Day 6, immediate pain relief after use, and overall patient-rated effectiveness. Safety and any device issues will be monitored from inclusion through Day 6. The study duration per participant is approximately 6 days.