What score would be assigned to a 48-year-old female patient with a heavy cough, sore throat, exudate, swollen tonsils, but no fever according to CENTOR's criteria?

In determining the appropriate score for this 48-year-old female patient using the CENTOR criteria, it is important to note the specific symptoms and findings that contribute to the scoring system. CENTOR criteria help evaluate the likelihood of streptococcal pharyngitis based on four clinical factors: fever, absence of cough, tonsillar exudate, and swollen tender anterior cervical lymph nodes.

The patient presents with a heavy cough, sore throat, exudate, and swollen tonsils, but she does not have a fever. According to the criteria:

1. Fever: This criterion is not met since the patient does not have a fever.

2. Absence of cough: The patient has a heavy cough, so this criterion is also not met.

3. Tonsillar exudate: The presence of exudate indicates one point in favor of streptococcal infection.

4. Swollen tender anterior cervical lymph nodes: The case does not mention swollen lymph nodes, which means this criterion is not accounted for.

Given this analysis, the patient meets only one criterion (tonsillar exudate). As a result, she would be assigned a score of 1 based on the CENTOR criteria. Therefore, the score reflects the presence