What strep is
Strep is short for Streptococcus, a kind of bacteria that often lives in the nose and throat. Most strep infections are mild, but some turn serious, depending on a person's overall health. There are several types; two cause most infections in people: group A and group B.
How it spreads
Group A passes from a person who has it — even one who doesn't feel sick — when:
- they cough or sneeze;
- you share a glass or utensil with them;
- you touch something with the bacteria on it, then touch your eyes, mouth or nose;
- you touch their open wound or sore.
Group B can pass to a newborn through fluids during a vaginal birth.
Who is most at risk
- Group A is most common in children aged 5 to 15, though adults get it too. Risk is higher with a weakened immune system, open sores or wounds, or certain viral infections such as a cold or flu.
- Group B is mostly a concern for newborns, but adults can be infected too — especially people 65 or older or with other health problems.
Symptoms
They depend on the infection.
Group A — mostly mild, sometimes serious:
| Infection | What happens |
|---|---|
| Strep throat | a sore, red throat; swollen tonsils, perhaps with white spots |
| Scarlet fever | follows strep throat, with a red rash that spreads across the body |
| Impetigo | sores or blisters on the skin, often around the mouth and nose or on the arms and legs |
| Cellulitis | a skin infection with redness, swelling and pain, usually on the legs |
| Necrotizing fasciitis ("flesh-eating disease") | rare but serious; spreads fast through skin and tissue |
| Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome | rare but life-threatening; the bacteria release toxins that can make organs fail |
Group B: in newborns, blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis; in adults, urinary tract, blood and skin infections, and pneumonia.
Diagnosis
- Strep throat is usually diagnosed with a rapid test or a throat culture. Other group A infections may need a physical exam, lab tests, imaging or, in some cases, surgery.
- Group B: pregnant women are typically screened at about 36 to 37 weeks.
Treatment
- Group A infections often clear up on their own in about a week. If treatment is needed, it is usually antibiotics; serious (invasive) infections may need antibiotics in a hospital. Left untreated, they can lead to serious health problems.
- Group B: a pregnant woman who carries it gets IV antibiotics during labor to protect the baby. Adults with group B infections are also treated with antibiotics.
Prevention
- Group A: good hygiene helps — avoid close contact with someone who is infected, wash your hands often with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Group B: get screened during pregnancy. If the test is positive, antibiotics during labor can protect your baby.
Sources
Based on "Streptococcal Infections," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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