Streptococcal infection

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Streptococcal Infection

Streptococcal infection (pronunciation: strep·to·coc·cal in·fec·tion /ˌstreptəˈkäk(ə)l inˈfekSH(ə)n/) is an infection caused by the Streptococcus genus of bacteria.

Etymology

The term "Streptococcal" is derived from the Greek words "streptos" meaning twisted and "kokkos" meaning berry. This is in reference to the bacteria's characteristic chain-like formation under the microscope.

Definition

A Streptococcal infection is a bacterial infection caused by any one of the several species of the Streptococcus genus. These bacteria are Gram-positive, spherical, and often occur in pairs or chains. They are responsible for many cases of pharyngitis, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, impetigo, cellulitis, and necrotizing fasciitis.

Types of Streptococcal Infections

There are several types of Streptococcal infections, including:

  • Streptococcus pyogenes: This is the bacterium responsible for diseases such as strep throat, impetigo, and scarlet fever.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae: This bacterium causes pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media.
  • Streptococcus agalactiae: Also known as Group B Streptococcus, this bacterium can cause serious illness in newborns, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a Streptococcal infection can vary widely depending on the type of infection. They may include sore throat, fever, red and swollen tonsils, headache, and rash in the case of strep throat or scarlet fever. More serious infections such as necrotizing fasciitis can cause severe pain, fever, and redness, swelling, and heat over the affected area.

Treatment

Treatment for Streptococcal infections typically involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required.

Prevention

Prevention of Streptococcal infections can be achieved through good hygiene practices such as regular hand washing, not sharing personal items, and staying away from infected individuals.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski