How is strep throat different from invasive Group A Strep?
A. If Group A strep bacteria infect the throat, the patient will have strep throat: a severe sore throat with a fever and swollen glands. Doctors will usually test to see if the patient has strep throat. There are two reasons for doing this test. First, if strep are found, the doctor knows to treat the patient with antibiotics and to keep the strep from spreading to other parts of the body. Second, because strep throat is contagious, the patient can be told to stay home from school, work, or other activities until the antibiotics fight the infection. The Group A strep involved in strep throat are not usually the invasive type. The M-1 and M-3 types of Group A strep, on the other hand, have specific characteristics that let them quickly infect and spread throughout the body. A massive infection can lead to a dangerous, life-threatening condition. Q. What are the symptoms of invasive Group A Strep infection? A. There can be many different types of symptoms of this disease because the bac
