Centor (sore throat)
Alternative streptococcal probability score.
What it is for
Acute pharyngitis — alternative to FeverPAIN. NICE NG84 accepts either FeverPAIN or Centor.
Use the working calculator
The working Centor (sore throat) calculator is on our calculators page. It is free and needs no account. Enter the values and it shows the result with the reading that goes with it.
The calculators are free. The trial opens the protocols and pathways they link to.What you enter
The calculator asks for 4 items.
- Tonsillar exudate (1 point)
- Tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy (1 point)
- Fever > 38°C (or history of) (1 point)
- Absence of cough (1 point)
How the result is read
The result is shown as Centor score, out of a maximum of 4.
The calculator reads each total as follows. Where a single answer changes the reading (for example sex, age or one extreme value), the working calculator says so.
| Total | Band | What the calculator says |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Low probability | No antibiotic. Strep risk ~2–10%. Self-care. |
| 2 | Moderate | No antibiotic (NICE NG84: Centor 0–2) — self-care and safety-net. Strep risk ~10–18%. |
| 3 to 4 | High probability | NICE NG84 (score 3–4): consider an immediate antibiotic or a back-up antibiotic prescription. See the sore throat protocol. Strep risk ~38–63%. |
Sources
These are the sources the calculator cites. Check the current version before relying on a threshold.
Related
For qualified clinicians. A score supports a clinical decision and does not make it: check the inputs, read the cited source, and use the tools in your clinical system for patient care where one is provided.