What are the symptoms of Group B strep?
Group B strep infection can appear in the baby in one of two ways: • Early onset disease (less than 7 days after birth) is characterized by bacterial infection in the baby s bloodstream, which often leads to respiratory distress, periods of irregular breathing, shock, pneumonia and meningitis. Early onset disease has a death rate of about 50%. It is acquired before or during delivery, and occurs more frequently in low birth weight infants. • Late onset disease (one week to several months after birth) is characterized by bacterial infection in the baby s bloodstream that often leads to meningitis. Late onset disease has a death rate of about 25% and is acquired by person-to-person contact and occurs in full term infants. How do I know if I have Group B strep? Your doctor can do a test for Group B strep by taking a simple vaginal swab during your prenatal visits. If you test positive, treatment is usually recommended around the 35th 37th week of pregnancy. Can Group B strep be treated? Y
