What symptom on examination indicates a positive Centor score for bacterial pharyngitis?

A positive Centor score for bacterial pharyngitis includes specific clinical features that help distinguish between viral and bacterial causes of throat inflammation. Fever is a significant symptom in this context. The presence of a fever typically indicates that the body is fighting an infection, which is more likely to be bacterial in nature when considering pharyngitis.

In contrast, other symptoms like cough, fatigue, and runny nose are more commonly associated with viral infections. A cough, for instance, often suggests a viral etiology rather than a bacterial one. Fatigue can accompany various illnesses, and a runny nose is typically seen in viral infections, which can lead to a misdiagnosis if not considered carefully. Thus, fever serves as a key indicator in the Centor criteria, helping clinicians more accurately assess the likelihood of streptococcal pharyngitis versus other viral causes.