Streptococcal rash

introduction

Streptococci are bacteria that can cause various diseases, such as infections of the respiratory tract or skin.
A skin reaction in the sense of inflammation can occur directly at the site of the infection, as is the case, for example, with streptococcus-mediated erysipelas (wound rose) or impetigo (lichen). If, however, a rash occurs all over the body as part of a streptococcal infection, it is called a rash, which is primarily caused by the body's immune reaction.

Concomitant symptoms

In most cases, the rash is not painful, but it can be uncomfortable, overheated, and tender. After the reddening occurs, the skin often flakes, which is accompanied by itching.
In some cases, the immune response affects not only the skin, but also the internal organs. Therefore complications such as an inflammation of the heart, kidney inflammation or eye infections and rheumatic diseases are possible, which is why such patients should be checked regularly.

root cause

How a pathogen, which in most cases is responsible for infections of the upper respiratory tract, can cause a rash all over the body is initially incomprehensible to the layperson.
Some streptococci, such as the A-streptococci of scarlet fever, form harmful substances, so-called Toxinsthat can cause damage not only at the site of the infection but also throughout the body by overstimulating the immune system or the pathogen itself. In scarlet fever, these are the so-called erythrogenic toxins, which can damage the smallest blood vessels in the skin. However, other types of streptococci that cause skin infections, for example, can also form such substances. The reaction of your own immune system is therefore responsible for the redness and the rash.
This overstimulation is particularly common with streptococci and then leads to aggressive immune cells and released antibodies to fight the pathogen, but also to minor damage to the own body, such as the blood vessels of the skin.

For more information on the cause: Causes of a rash

diagnosis

If a rash develops during a streptococcal infection with, for example, a sore throat, this should be shown to the treating doctor.

Mostly it is a harmless side effect that disappears again as the disease subsides. The doctor should, however, rule out an allergy when antibiotics are given, which may look very similar, and monitor the patient closely in order to detect excessive overreaction of the immune system in time.

Streptococcal Tests

A number of different tests for diagnosing streptococcal disease can be found on the market. These are usually quick tests that are relatively cheap in terms of their unit price. The characteristic of these tests, however, is that they only examine a specific group of streptococci. There are tests for group A streptococci and tests for pathogens of the streptococcal B family.

At this point, the editors recommend the following article: Streptococcus rapid test

However, this test should be carried out by medical personnel in order to draw the appropriate conclusions depending on the result and to initiate the necessary measures.

If you are more interested in this topic, then read our next article below: Streptococci - Symptoms, Causes and Therapy

treatment

The focus is on causal therapy, i.e. the elimination of the cause, in this case the elimination of the pathogen. The attending physician has various antibiotics at his disposal, which are used depending on the type of streptococcus and the level of resistance.

In addition, adequate fluid intake should be ensured and the symptoms of the infection should be relieved with painkillers and antipyretic drugs. The immune reaction that is responsible for the rash is usually not treated directly because it decreases as the disease subsides and the cause can hardly be treated. As a rule, the elimination of the streptococci is therefore sufficient.
Cortisone creams and the like should be avoided, but there is nothing against the care with moisturizing lotions to regenerate the skin. In rare cases, when overstimulation of the immune system is causing symptoms other than the rash, the patient should be monitored in a hospital to avoid possible complications.

You might also be interested in: Rash after taking antibiotics

Duration

If a streptococcal rash occurs, it usually occurs in the first few days of the illness and disappears again after about 1 week, similar to the streptococcal infection itself. After the reddening has subsided, the skin flakes, which takes a few days persists. The rash including scaling is over after 1-2 weeks.

Locations of the infection

Streptococci in the nose

Streptococci in the nose belong partly to the bacteria of our normal mouth and throat flora, partly not. Nevertheless, there is a very high "infection rate" with streptococci in the mouth, nose and throat in the German population.
As a rule, the human immune system is strong enough to keep the number of bacteria in check so that the pathogens do not multiply too much and there is also no infection. However, if the immune system is weak, the bacteria can multiply so much that an infection occurs.
The physiologically occurring streptococci, i.e. those that are located on the mucous membranes anyway, include, for example, the Streptococcus mutans.
Streptococcus pyogenes, the causative agent of scarlet fever, is one of the non-naturally occurring streptococci.

Streptococci in the urine

Bacteria in the urine are usually found in a bladder infection. Worse and in significantly higher numbers if the infection affects not only the urinary bladder, but also the upper urinary tract or even the kidneys.
To confirm the diagnosis, a beaker of urine is then usually taken and the contents examined for bacteria. Streptococci are among the bacterial species that are potentially encountered and are also examined for. The Streptococcus agalactiae, which often leads to urethritis or urinary bladder infections, is particularly prominent.
In order to be able to carry out a clear examination of the urine, it is important that the urine is obtained from the middle of the peeing process, as the first milliliters can still contain impurities that would then falsify the result.

Rash on the face

The face is not the most typical location for a rash, but it does show changes in many streptococcal infections. The best known streptococcal rash, the scarlet fever rash, first affects the upper body and spreads from there. The face is more easily affected, but paleness (especially around the mouth) and a reddened tongue, the so-called "strawberry tongue", are noticeable.
The erysipelas, on the other hand, which is also popularly known as wound rose, can primarily affect the face. However, this is not a real rash, but an acute inflammation of the skin and connective tissue, caused by the penetration of streptococci via e.g. a small wound is triggered. Other inflammations of the skin caused by streptococci and other pathogens are also possible. If only the face shows changes that show symptoms of acute inflammation (overheating, pain, swelling, etc.), this can also be caused by streptococci, but then it is not a classic rash, but a local inflammation.

You might also be interested in:

• Rash on the face
• Scarlet fever rash

Rash on baby

The examples given so far describe diseases of childhood or adulthood. But babies can also become infected with streptococci and other germs and develop skin irritations and rashes as a result. The so-called is particularly feared sepsis, colloquially blood poisoning, of a newborn.
This is very often associated with streptococci and describes a highly acute clinical picture in which the baby feels very bad very quickly. Typically, the babies are pale, the skin marbled gray and possibly spotted red. Here, however, the serious general symptoms are in the foreground and the rash only makes the diagnosis easier without causing symptoms itself. Other streptococcal infections can also affect the skin directly and lead to eczema, such as impetigo contagiosa, also known colloquially as pus or ringworm. Streptococci and possibly other germs trigger an unsightly inflammation of the skin, which can look very dramatic. Streptococci can thus attack the baby's skin directly or lead to a skin reaction due to systemic diseases.

You might also be interested in: Blood poisoning in children