Strep how is it transmitted

Infection with GAS can result in no illness, mild illness like strep throat or impetigo, or severe or life-threatening illness. Severe GAS illness can become "invasive," that is, the bacteria has reached parts of the body where bacteria are not usually found such as the blood, deep muscle and fat tissue, or the lungs. Two of the most severe, but least common, forms of invasive GAS disease are called "necrotizing fasciitis" and "streptococcal toxic shock syndrome" STSS. Necrotizing fasciitis is a destructive infection of muscle and fat tissue, and occasionally described by the media as the "flesh eating" bacteria.

STSS is a rapidly progressing infection that causes shock and injury to internal organs such as the liver, kidneys and lungs. It is estimated that about 10,, cases of invasive GAS disease occur in the U.

In contrast, there are several million cases of the milder GAS illnesses, strep throat, and impetigo, each year.

Invasive GAS infections occur when the bacteria gets past the defenses of the person who is infected. This may occur when a person has sores or other breaks in the skin that allow the bacteria to get into the tissue.

In addition, there are certain types of GAS that are more likely to cause severe disease than others. Few people who come in contact with GAS will develop invasive GAS disease; most will have a mild throat or skin infection and some may have no symptoms whatsoever. If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection.

Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier. Complications can occur after a strep throat infection. This can happen if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Complications can include:. People can get strep throat more than once. Having strep throat does not protect someone from getting it again in the future.

While there is no vaccine to prevent strep throat, there are things people can do to protect themselves and others. The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating. To practice good hygiene, you should:.

You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed. Take the prescription exactly as the doctor says to. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.

Minus Related Pages. On This Page. The most common symptoms of strep throat include: Sore throat that can start very quickly Pain when swallowing Fever Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus Tiny, red spots petechiae — pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye on the roof of the mouth the soft or hard palate Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — especially in children. The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of strep throat: Cough Runny nose Hoarseness changes in your voice that makes it sound breathy, raspy, or strained Conjunctivitis also called pink eye It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep to become ill.

Children and Certain Adults Are at Increased Risk Anyone can get strep throat, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this common infection.

Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include: Parents of school-aged children Adults who are often in contact with children Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. These settings include: Schools Daycare centers Military training facilities.

Strep Throat: More Common in Children. Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat.

Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria group A streptococcus. Strep bacteria cause almost a third of all sore throats. Strep throat usually needs treatment with antibiotics. With the proper medical care — and plenty of rest and fluids — most kids get back to school and play within a few days.

Not all sore throats are strep throats. Often, kids have a sore throat because of a virus , which will usually clear up without medical treatment. Strep throat is very contagious.

Anybody can get it, but most cases are in school-age kids and teens. Infections are common during the school year when big groups of kids and teens are in close quarters. The bacteria that cause strep throat tend to hang out in the nose and throat.

So normal activities like sneezing, coughing, or shaking hands can easily spread an infection from one person to another. Kids with untreated strep throat are more likely to spread the infection when their symptoms are most severe, but can still infect others for up to 3 weeks. That's why it's so important to teach kids the importance of hand washing. Good hygiene can lessen their chances of getting contagious diseases like strep throat. If your child has a sore throat and other strep throat symptoms, call your doctor.