What is Strep?
Streptococcus, also known as strep is a bacteria that is most commonly found in the mouth and throat. There are 4 main types of strep - A, B, C and G, which Strep A is the most common of all. Streptococcus Group A is rarely life-threatening. In most cases, it is healed in a one or two days with the help of antibiotics, but on rare occasions, they can get very dangerous. It can cause high fevers and muscle aches. In more severe cases, it even causes pneumonia, multi organ failures, heart problems, amputations, Necrotizing Fasciitis, STSS and death in a few hours. Approximately 12000 people get Strep A every year, and it kills up to 1600 patients per year.
What is Necrotizing Fasciitis?
Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF), commonly known as the flesh-eating disease is a severe infection that causes a rapid death of soft tissue. Usual symptoms are purple coloured dead skin and severe pain with fever. There are 4 types of NF. Type I is polymicrobial, Type II is monomicrobial, Type III is Marine Vibrio and Type IV is fungal. Type II is where Strep caused and MRSA caused NF lies.
What is STSS?
Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome, or STSS is a rare complication of Strep with serious effects. STSS has to be treated with antibiotics in a hospital by a doctor, or else a patient can get shock and organ failure from STSS and die shortly after. Some may even need surgery and 30% to 70% of patients die after contracting STSS. However, even though anyone can get STSS, elders 65 and above or people with wounds are more likely to contract STSS with serious complications.
How do you catch strep?
Strep is very contagious. It is spread by airborne droplets, such as someone sneezing or coughing at another person, or someone touching an infected surface and then touching their face.
Symptoms:
- Sore and Painful Throat
- Fever
- Swelling in Tonsils with redness, white patches and pus
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Red spots on roof of mouth
Consequences if left untreated:
If Strep is left untreated, it can cause lots of other problems, such as kidney inflammation, joint inflammations, rashes or even heart valve problems even though it can go away on its own in about a week.
Treatment:
Antibiotics are very useful during strep. Most doctors will prescribe it to decrease the time of healing.
Prevention:
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue or elbow
- Stay home if you're sick
- Wash or disinfect your hands
