Beta Throat Infection

What is Strep A bacteria?

Group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), also known by the abbreviation GAS, is a type of bacteria usually found in the throat and on the skin. Group A streptococcal infections usually cause sore throat and tonsil infection, also called tonsillitis. This type of bacteria can cause scarlet fever and skin infections such as impetigo and cellulitis. In rare cases, the bacteria can also cause life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome, known as invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS). In some individuals, group A streptococcal infection can lead to serious complications that can damage the heart (a condition known as rheumatic fever) or the kidneys (known as glomerulonephritis). Streptococcus A is commonly known as Beta.

Children are at risk

Group A streptococcus can cause disease in anyone, but the people at greatest risk are listed as follows:

1. Children up to 15 years of age
2. Individuals over 65
3. People with a weak immune system
4. People with chronic diseases
5. People who do not follow hygiene rules

Detecting Beta is important

This infection, especially in children, can cause sore throat, difficulty swallowing, inflammation of the tonsils (a condition called tonsillitis), scarlet fever, skin diseases called cellulitis and impetigo, pneumonia, kidney inflammation, rheumatic heart disease, acute rheumatic fever and toxic shock syndrome. If there are no viral signs and the clinical score suggests streptococcus, a rapid Strep A test is performed; in a child, a negative result is confirmed with a throat culture. Most upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Rest and plenty of fluids are recommended.

What are the symptoms of Strep A infection?

The symptoms of Streptococcus A can be listed as follows:

1. Sore throat
2. Fever
3. Scarlet fever-like rash on the skin
4. White, pus-filled appearance in the throat
5. Swollen lymph glands
6. Red spots on the palate
7. Malaise, fatigue
8. Muscle aches
9. Headache

A rapid Strep A test should be done and a throat culture taken without delay

White pus-filled sores in the throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and red spots on the palate called petechiae are seen more often in this disease. In patients presenting with sore throat and fever, a rapid Strep A test is performed if there are no viral signs and the clinical score suggests streptococcus; in a child, a negative result is confirmed with a throat culture. If the rapid Strep A test is positive, antibiotic treatment is started immediately. If the test result is negative, growth may occur in the throat culture in 25 percent of cases. For this reason, it is very important to follow up the throat culture result. If the test result states "Group A streptococcus (Beta) grew in the throat culture", antibiotic treatment is started without delay. With newly developed technology, you can have our URTI PCR panel done at the Wellcare laboratory to diagnose Strep A (URTI PCR). PCR can also be positive in carriers; the test should be done only when there are findings suggestive of streptococcal pharyngitis, and the result should be interpreted by a physician.

Early treatment is important

The disease needs to be treated within 9 days of the onset of symptoms. Antibiotics are not needed in any other type of throat infection; in Beta, however, antibiotics speed recovery, reduce transmission and prevent acute rheumatic fever, but they have not been shown to prevent glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation). In treatment (if there is no allergy), a single dose of penicillin injection can be given, or oral antibiotics need to be used for 10 days, up to 20 doses.

The differential diagnosis includes rubella, Parvovirus B19 infection, Epstein-Barr infection, drug allergy and Kawasaki disease.

Take the prevention recommendations into account

Group A streptococcus can be contagious. For this reason, to prevent transmission, situations such as hugging, shaking hands, sharing towels and sharing spoons with sick people should be avoided. Great attention should be paid to personal hygiene measures. Contagiousness ends 24-48 hours after antibiotic treatment is started. People who do not receive treatment can transmit the infection for up to 2-3 weeks.