Strep throat in infants: A common diagnosis?

Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacterium known as group A streptococcus. Strep throat can occur at any age, even during infancy. However, strep throat is most common in school-age children and young adults.

For the few infants who develop strep throat, signs and symptoms may include:

• Sleeplessness
• Irritability
• Fever
• Refusal to breast-feed or drink from a bottle
• Occasionally, a fine, red rash on the torso, arms and legs

Strep throat is diagnosed with a throat culture, in which the doctor swabs the child's throat and tests the sample for the presence of strep bacteria. Treatment for strep throat is typically a course of antibiotics.

Recurrent strep throat isn't likely a sign of an underlying problem with a child's immune system. Children who develop strep throat repeatedly may have contact with a carrier of strep, likely at home or in a child care setting — or may be strep carriers themselves. Recurrent strep throat is often treated with a different antibiotic from the one prescribed originally.