Strep A and Streb B - are they the same/can one become the other?

[Pavlovthecat]

I know, sounds like stupid question and I probably already know the answer! I know they are both strepococcal infections (sp).

I think i know that Strep A is manifested in for example throat and chest infections, and can affect anyone and Streb B lives in the vagina (is that right?) therefore only affecting women. Many women have strep B living dormant in their systems.

But, can they interchange, one become the other? My friend's little girl has step A tonsilitis, we have been on holiday together and I now have a very sore swollen throat, suspect I know also have this.

At the moment I am well enough for work, although it is getting worse not sure how I will feel tomorrow. But, my longwinded question is can I pass this on to a pregnant woman in the form of Strep B? Or is it just a case of passing it on as it is now to them? A colleague who sits closely to me is about 18wks pg, and another colleague who is at the other end of the office but we make contact in the day.

[therugratref]

Different bugs but part of the same Streptococcus family. Strep A cant become Strep B

[Pavlovthecat]

oh good. So it is relatively safe to go to work if I feel ok tomorrow! Although I don't particularly want them to have tonsilitis either, it might not even get that bad for me, just be sore throat, but def worried about it mutating or something! glad it won't!

Silly the things we worry about eh?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

More information of both strep A and strep B for you. One cannot mutate into the other.

//www.nhs.uk/conditions/Streptococcal-infections/Pages/Introduction.aspx

If you are not well enough to go into work tomorrow take the day off and see how you feel on Tuesday. I used to work for some v crappy employers but they were right when they stated do not to come into work if you're feeling unwell.

Hope you're better soon (listen to some Bruce!).

[Pavlovthecat]

atilla ah good ol bruce for sorting out the soul eh?!

I don't feel particularly sick. Yet. But, i woke with a sore throat and I can feel my neck starting to swell and my voice is sounding funny! I have a slight headache, but hard to say if that is too much alcohol yesterday at a bbq along with not enough sleep, or part of the bug. You know when you feel you are becoming unwell, but not there yet.

I will most likely go to work tomorrow, as I have a lot to do after a week off but will see how it goes! More worried about my pregnant colleagues.

[Pavlovthecat]

thanks for that info as well, very helpful

[Pavlovthecat]

so by the sounds of it, likely that many sore throat/ear infections that the kids have are s strand of strep a? funny, my gp always says 'oh its a virus'! Not that I would expect the treatment recommended to change, the kids shake their bugs very easily so even if strep a was identified they would not normally need anything other than calpol etc.

Me on the other hand, I get walloped quite badly with throat infections! I have not had one since just before conceiving DS almost 2yrs old. Before that I got them at least 2 times a year badly.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

my esperience has been that strep a does make even children feel really unwell - it can bring on scarlet fever in some people and i think it is one of the cases where gps will give antibiotics if they think thats what you or a child have. So if you think you have it, pop down to the gp and get it treated.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

doh. fingers not awake -'Experience'! not esperience!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

oh - I see thats not what the link says - maybe I've been unlucky!

[Pavlovthecat]

i have heard that too about scarlet fever, it being a strain of strep a. DS had it, i am pretty certain of it, right down the the strawberry tongue, rash, the lot. Doc said 'oh its a virus'. as normal! He got over it fine.

I had scarlet fever when I was little and don't recall being particularly ill with it, just remember not being able to go on a brownie outing, on my 9th birthday!

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

My understanding is that Scarlet Fever isn't caused by a particular strain of Strep A rather it's the body's immune response to it. So two people can have the same strain of strep - one might get scarlet fever and one might not.