Strep and Pneumonia Information for the General Public

The MayoClinic website defines pneumonia as inflammation of the lungs. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is more common in children aged 5 to 15 than in adults. Pneumonia strikes every age group, but affects the elderly more severely than it does younger adults.

Causes

• Group A streptococcus, or Streptococcus pyogenes, causes strep throat infections. The bacteria spreads through droplets dispersed into the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. If you share food with an infected person, or touch a surface that contains the bacteria, you may become infected. The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that people with strep infections are contagious until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours.

  Like strep throat, pneumonia can be caused by bacterial infections. Pneumonia can also be caused by fungi or viruses that travel to your lungs from your sinuses, nose or mouth.

Symptoms

• Strep throat symptoms include swollen tonsils, problems swallowing, a sore throat, white patches or pus on the tonsils, red tonsils, stomach problems, headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and rashes. The MayoClinic website lists the symptoms of pneumonia as fever, perspiring, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, coughing, problems breathing and chest pains.

Treatment

• Treatment for strep consists of a course of antibiotics such as amoxicillin, getting plenty of rest and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. For viral pneumonia, treatment includes getting rest and staying hydrated. Bacterial and mycoplasma pneumonia require antibiotics. Anti-fungal medications fight pneumonia caused by fungi.

Considerations

• Strep throat and pneumonia pose serious health risks if left untreated. Cases of pneumonia can be life-threatening. Untreated strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, heart damage or kidney inflammation.