GROUP A STREP
Group A Streptococci are bacteria commonly found in the throat and on the skin. It can be present in the throat or on the skin and cause no symptoms of disease, but the organisms may also cause diseases that range from mild to severe and even life threatening.
Strep Throat is typically characterized by sudden onset, fever, sore throat, and tender and swollen lymph nodes. In school-age children, strep throat may be accompanied by headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Rheumatic fever can result when strep throat is untreated or incompletely treated.
Scarlet Fever is a form of streptococcal disease characterized by a skin rash and is caused by toxin produced by the bacteria. It may include all the symptoms associated with strep throat. The rash appears 12 to 48 hours after the onset of fever. The rash usually consists of fine red bumps with sandpaper-like texture, and fades with pressure. The rash is followed, at the beginning of the second week, by a peeling of the skin, beginning on the fingertips. The tongue appears coated at first, peeling and then beefy red.
Rheumatic Fever may occur as a complication following infection with Group A streptococci. Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of symptomatic, acquired childhood heart disease (abnormalities of the heart valves and inflammation of the joints) cause by untreated Group A Beta Hemolytic Strep
Contagiousness:
Group A streptococci are transmitted person-to-person by direct contact with respiratory secretions and close contact. Nasal carriers are particularly likely to transmit disease. Untreated strep infections can be transmissible for weeks to months.
Treatment:
The student should be taken to their health care provider for a strep test and throat culture. The health care provider will prescribe oral antibiotic therapy.
School Exclusion Guidelines:
The student may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment has been completed and is fever-free.