Streptococcal Infections

Summary

Strep is short for Streptococcus, a type of bacteria. There are several types. Two of them cause most of the strep infections in people: group A and group B.

Group A strep causes:

• Strep throat – a sore, red throat. Your tonsils may be swollen and have white spots on them.
• Scarlet fever – an illness that follows strep throat. It causes a red rash on the body.
• Impetigo – a skin infection
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease)

Group B strep can cause blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns. A screening test during pregnancy can tell if you have it. If you do, intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor can save your baby’s life. Adults can also get group B strep infections, especially if they are 65 or older or already have health problems. Strep B can cause urinary tract infections, blood infections, skin infections and pneumonia in adults.

Antibiotics are used to treat strep infections.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Encyclopedia

• Anti-DNase B blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Antistreptolysin O titer Medical Encyclopedia
• Necrotizing soft tissue infection Medical Encyclopedia
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (GN) Medical Encyclopedia
• Sydenham chorea Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Rheumatic Fever National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Streptococcal Infections National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Ecthyma Medical Encyclopedia
• Erysipelas Medical Encyclopedia
• Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn Medical Encyclopedia
• Group B streptococcus – pregnancy Medical Encyclopedia
• Perianal streptococcal cellulitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Rheumatic fever Medical Encyclopedia
• Scarlet fever Medical Encyclopedia
• Strep throat Medical Encyclopedia
• Streptococcal screen Medical Encyclopedia
• Throat swab culture Medical Encyclopedia
• Toxic shock syndrome Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Glomerulonephritis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Glomerulonephritis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Scarlet Fever: All You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Sydenham Chorea National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Children

• Group A Strep Infections (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) Questions and Answers National Institute of Mental Health
• Recurring Strep Throat: When Is Tonsillectomy Useful? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Scarlet Fever VisualDX
• Scarlet Fever (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Scoop on Strep Throat (For Kids) Nemours Foundation
• Sepsis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Streptococcal Infections: Not A or B American Academy of Pediatrics
• What about My Child and Rheumatic Fever? American Heart Association

Start Here

• Group A Streptococcal Infections National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Strep Throat (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Statistics and Research

• Group B Strep (GBS): Fast Facts and Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Women

• Group B Strep Infection American Academy of Family Physicians

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Group B Strep Infection: Prevention in Newborns Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Specifics

• Necrotizing Fasciitis: All You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Strep Throat American Academy of Family Physicians
• Strep Throat: All You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Toxic Shock Syndrome (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Streptococcal infections

Diagnosis and Tests

• Rapid Strep Test American Academy of Family Physicians
• Strep A Test National Library of Medicine
• Strep B Test National Library of Medicine
• Strep Test: Rapid (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Strep Test: Throat Culture (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Teenagers

• Strep Throat (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Toxic Shock Syndrome (For Teens) Nemours Foundation