$Unique_ID{PAR00157}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Strep Infections}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Strep Infections Headache Fever red Sore throat Swollen lymph nodes
neck Vomiting Abdominal pain Rash aspirin acetaminophen throat culture
cultures streptococcus organism streptococcal organisms bacteria bacterium
bacterial infectious mononucleosis A strain beta-hemolytic germ germs toxin
poison scarlet fever scarlatina rheumatic fever nephritis kidney inflammation
kidneys inflammations middle ear infection infections sinusitis pneumonia
transient arthritis nasal secretion secretions rash spots armpits groin trunk
extremities flush flushed face pale lips antibiotic antibiotics medication
medications Penicillin}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Strep Infections


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Headache
     - Fever
     - Sore, red throat
     - Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
     - Vomiting
     - Abdominal pain
     - Rash (sometimes)

     HOME CARE
     - Give aspirin or acetaminophen to relieve pain and fever, and take the
       child to the doctor.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Keep infants away from groups of children, who may be carriers (persons
       who harbor a disease-causing organism and can pass it on to others
       without getting the disease themselves) of the strep bacteria.
     - If one child has a strep infection, a throat culture should be
       performed on your other children whether they are ill or not.
     - Even if your child appears to be better, do not discontinue treatment
       until he has taken all the medication prescribed by the doctor.
     - A strep infection imparts immunity only to the particular type of
       bacteria that caused it.  (There are over 60 types of streptococcus
       organisms.)
     - If a child who is being treated with antibiotics for a strep throat
       does not respond to the medication within 24 to 48 hours, inform the
       doctor; the child may have infectious mononucleosis as well.


     There are at least 60 different types of streptococcus ("strep")
organisms.  After a strep infection, one is immune to further attacks by the
type of streptococcus organism that caused the illness, but not against other
types.
     Strep throat is a highly contagious infection of the throat, usually
caused by the group A strain of beta-hemolytic streptococcus bacteria.
Although some strep germs do not cause rashes, most types can produce a toxin
(poison) like the one that causes the rash that is characteristic of scarlet
fever (also commonly called scarlatina), which is another type of strep
infection.
     A streptococcal infection can be serious.  Among its complications are
rheumatic fever, nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), middle ear
infection, sinusitis, pneumonia, and transient (temporary) arthritis.
     The incubation period (the time it takes for symptoms to develop once the
child has been exposed to the bacteria) of strep throat is two to five days.
The disease is passed from child to child by means of throat or nasal
secretions from an infected person.  It may also be spread by a carrier who
has no symptoms of the illness.  At times, as many as half the children in any
one area may be carriers of strep infection.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The onset of strep throat is sudden.  It begins with a headache, fever
(up to 104 degrees_F), sore and red throat, vomiting, abdominal pain, and
swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
     If a strep infection is caused by a rash-producing type of organism, a
rash will develop within 24 to 72 hours.  The rash of scarlet fever typically
has fine, slightly raised red spots resembling coarse red sandpaper.  It
appears on the base of the neck, in the armpits and groin, and then on the
trunk and extremities.  The child's face is flushed, but the lips are pale.
When the rash subsides in three to 20 days, the skin flakes and peels.
     The diagnosis of strep throat cannot be confirmed without a throat
culture that isolates streptococcus organisms.  However, cultures are only 90
to 95 percent reliable.  The diagnosis of scarlet fever is based on the
appearance of the rash.

HOME CARE

     The only home treatment recommended is to give aspirin or acetaminophen
to relieve fever and pain.  A streptococcal infection should be treated by
your doctor.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Infants are immune to the scarlet fever toxin for four to six months
     after birth only if their mothers are immune.  Infants are not immune
     to other streptococcal infections, which may be very serious but may
     not produce typical symptoms.  Consequently, keep infants away from
     groups of children, some of whom may be carriers of streptococcus
     bacteria.
  -  If one child in your family has a streptococcal infection, a throat
     culture should be performed on your other children whether they are ill
     or not.
  -  Give the full course of antibiotic treatment prescribed by your doctor,
     even if the child seems to be well before afl the medicine is finished.
  -  If your child is being treated with antibiotics for a strep infection but
     the condition does not improve within 24 to 48 hours of starting the
     medication, inform your doctor.  The child may have infectious
     mononucleosis as well.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Strep throat is diagnosed on the basis of physical examination findings
and the results of a throat culture.  Penicillin (or another antibiotic for
those who are allergic to penicillin) is usually prescribed for ten days to
treat a streptococcal infection.  Antibiotics prevent rheumatic fever and may
prevent inflammation of the kidneys.  Hospitalization may be necessary if
complications develop.

RELATED TOPICS:  Arthritis; Earaches; Fever; Glands, swollen; Headaches;
Infectious mononucleosis; Nephritis; Pneumonia; Rashes; Sinusitis; Sore
throat; Stomachache, acute; Vomiting.