Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Newborns and Strep Throat | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My five-year-old has strep throat/scarlet fever, and I also have a 2½-month-old. What is the danger of such a young immune system being put through that? Would he (the two-month-old) have to be hospitalized if he got it? And we didn't catch it right away. The doctor gave us Augmentin for my five-year-old, but the baby could already have the bacteria in him. I just want to know what happens to a newborn that gets strep/scarlet fever?— Meeya in San Diego, Ca | | | ANSWER |
January 29, 2002 | | | Dear Meeya,
This is a good question because many people don't realize that although infants are very susceptible to serious infections caused by the group B streptococcus, it is not very common for them to become seriously ill from the kind of strep (group A) that cause strep throat and scarlet fever (which is merely a group A strep infection with a rash all over the body). Children under the age of three years generally have milder strep disease than school-age children. That said, if your baby looks sick to you (e.g., if he isn't eating well, is sleeping more, or if he has a fever), you should have him checked by his healthcare provider. Be sure to remind your provider that there is strep in the household. At this age, if he tests positive for strep but isn't very sick, his provider may feel that it is okay to give him antibiotics by mouth at home. However, the decision as to how and where to treat can only be made after your baby has been carefully evaluated.— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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