Facts About Group A Strep

More than 100 different types of Group A Beta Strep have been identified.
Common sites of infection include the upper respiratory tract; scarlet fever, which includes skin involvement and can be very mild or extremely serious; strep pneumonia (which can also be quite serious); strep skin infections (such as impetigo); strep vaginitis in pre-pubertal girls; and strep bacteremia (or strep in the bloodstream), which can then lead to meningitis, brain abscess, bone infections, joint infections, or even endocarditis (an infection of the valves of the heart).
Strep is contagious until antibiotic therapy has been in place for at least 24 hours. It is spread by close contact, both via respiratory droplets and by touch.
The diagnosis of a systemic strep infection should at least be entertained when there is vomiting lasting longer than 24 hours, a high fever, and an elevated white blood count in an ill-appearing child.
The presence of strep can be confirmed with a throat culture and/or a blood test.

Alan Greene MD FAAP
August 07, 1996
Reviewed by Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin MD February 2007