Minor strep A infections
Throat infection
Symptoms and signs of a sore throat include:
- swollen tonsils (two small glands found at the back of your throat, behind the tongue)
- enlarged and tender glands in your neck
- a painful, tender feeling at the back of your throat
- discomfort when swallowing
Read more about the symptoms of a throat infection.
Skin infections
The two most common types of strep A skin infections are:
- Impetigo: the symptoms of impetigo begin with red sores or blisters, usually around the nose and mouth, or on the arms, trunk (torso) or legs. The sores usually burst soon after they appear, leaving thick, yellow-brown golden crusts. The crusts dry to leave a red mark that will usually heal without scarring. Impetigo is not painful, but it can make your skin feel very itchy. Read more about the symptoms of impetigo.
- Cellulitis: cellulitis most commonly affects one of your legs but symptoms can develop in any area of your body. The condition affects your skin in several ways, causing it to become red, painful, hot, swollen and tender. If you have cellulitis, you may also find that blisters develop on your skin. Cellulitis can make you feel generally unwell, causing symptoms such as a high temperature, nausea, shivering and chills.
Read more about the symptoms of cellulitis.
Other types of strep A infection
Inner ear infection
Symptoms of inner ear infection include:
- severe earache
- a high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
- flu-like symptoms in children, such as vomiting and a lack of energy
- slight deafness
Read more about the symptoms of otitis media.
Sinusitis
Symptoms of sinusitis include:
- a blocked or runny nose
- a throbbing pain in your face, which is often worse when you move your head
- a high temperature
Read more about the symptoms of sinusitis.
Invasive strep A infections
The symptoms of an invasive strep A infection will depend on what type of infection develops.
For example:
- an infection of the lungs (pneumonia) causes persistent coughing, breathing difficulties and chest pain
- an infection of the blood (sepsis) causes high temperature, rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing
- an infection of the protective outer layer of the brain (meningitis) causes a severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and a distinctive blotchy red rash
Much rarer types of invasive strep A infections include:
- scarlet fever - an infection that can affect the whole body, with the most distinctive symptom being a widespread fine pink-red rash
- toxic shock syndrome - a serious, widespread infection of the blood and multiple organs
- necrotising fasciitis - an infection of the deepest layer of skin that causes the affected tissue to die (the death of tissue is known as gangrene)
Strep B infections
The symptoms of a strep B infection in a newborn baby usually develop within the first 12 hours of giving birth. Symptoms that a newborn baby may have include:
- being floppy and unresponsive
- poor feeding
- grunting when breathing
- irritability
- an unusually high or low temperature
- unusually fast or slow breathing
- an unusually fast or slow heart rate
While much rarer, strep B infections can occasionally develop in adults. These tend to take a similar form to invasive strep A infection, with symptoms depending on where in the body the infection takes place, such as pneumonia, meningitis or sepsis.
