We determined the characteristics of group A streptococci isolated from 29 sporadic cases with non-suppurative complication or severe infection during a 15-year period from 1977 to 1991. The clinical diagnoses of children included 4 patients with rheumatic fever, 2 with reactive arthritis, 2 with central nervous system complication, 5 with glomerulonephritis, 11 with Honoch-Scholein purpura, 4 with sepsis and 1 with empyema. Twenty-four strains were isolated from throat swabs, 4 from blood specimens and one from pleural fluid. M/T-serotypes and the number of isolates were as follows; 1/1:10, 3/3:1, 3.3R/3:3, 4/4:7, 5/NT:1, 12/12:3, 18/18:2, 62/12:1, NT/13:1. All 29 isolates had productivity for at least one of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPEs) A, B and C. Two strains were positive for A, 2 for A and B, 3 for A, B and C, 9 for B and 13 for B and C. Of 11 isolates from patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, 7 and 2 strains were serotyped in M1 and M4, respectively, but none was in M12. Ten of 11 isolates were positive for SPE B or SPEs B and C.
