What are the facts of group A strep infection ?”
The Group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus germ causes numerous infections, chiefly of the respiratory tract, but also involving other organ systems, chiefly the skin and lungs. The throat infections themselves are rarely serious and ordinarily, like most repiratory infections, are handled by the immune system without too much difficulty. Unfortunately, the immune system of humans tends to get confused in fighting off this germ, and forms antibodies that can cross react with the blood vessels in various organs of the body. This is called a vasculitis. The characteristic vasculitis of Strep infection is scarlet fever or scarletina. Streptococal pharyngitis (strep throat) is a bacterial infection most common in school age children during the winter and spring months. It is spread by coughing and sneezing of infectious droplets with subsequent inhalation by the next victim. Direct contact with the secretions via touching contaminated items or drinking from the same glass works well to sprea
