Streptococci

Streptococci colonize the mucous membranes of healthy people and are considered harmless there. However, they are also responsible for a number of infections and diseases, some of which are severe.

What are streptococci?

As Streptococci are bacteria that have a spherical appearance. Their shape is described by the term “cocci”, derived from ancient Greek. There are a number of subspecies of the streptococci, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus salivarius.

In healthy people, they occur in the throat and mouth as well as in the intestine and vagina of the woman and usually do not cause any problems there. As soon as the immune system is weakened, however, streptococci can cause serious illnesses.

These include otitis media, pneumonia, meningitis, appendicitis, as well as strep throat and scarlet fever. Streptococci are still responsible for blood poisoning and urinary tract infections.

Meaning & function

Streptococci settle on the mucous membranes in healthy people. There they are so limited in number by the normal immune system that diseases cannot occur. However, they can be detected with the help of laboratory tests. Streptococcus mutans was isolated in the mouth as early as 1924.

This strain of bacteria is considered to be the cause of tooth decay and is also responsible for bacterial plaque. If the immune system is weakened, an increase in the number of bacteria increases the risk of tooth decay. The same applies to Streptococcus pyogenes, which can be detected in the throat area of ​​every fifth person without symptoms of a sore throat occurring. The number of germs present is far too low for a disease to break out.

It is therefore important to take care of yourself during an acute illness, because untreated infections or too early exposure can lead to serious secondary diseases of the heart muscle as well as the heart valves and kidneys. Rheumatic fever also occurs after an infection with streptococci. The bacteria usually respond well to antibiotic treatment. However, it can also happen that resistances have already developed. This risk is particularly acute in patients who have repeatedly had to be treated with antibiotics.

This is another reason why it is important to always take these medications exactly as prescribed and to consult the doctor again if there is no improvement. If necessary, he can then determine the exact pathogen within the streptococcus family in order to find an effective drug.

Diseases

Streptococci are a common cause of urinary tract infections. These include, above all, bladder infections, which can quickly affect the kidneys and trigger an inflammation of the renal pelvis. If the typical pain when urinating does not improve and if there is unilateral pain in the kidney area, a doctor must be consulted quickly.

Middle ear infections are initially a consequence of colds that spread to the ear canal. They are characterized by severe earache and often a fever. In this case, too, a doctor must be consulted to prevent the inflammation from worsening further. This can lead to perforation of the eardrum.

Bacterial pneumonia also progresses with fever and chills and an excruciating cough. The reduced oxygen saturation can be seen on the patient's bluish lips. The area under the fingernails can also have a bluish discoloration, especially when exposed to stress. The best known are probably the sore throat (angina) and also the scarlet fever. Both diseases start with a fever and a sore throat.

With scarlet fever, a typical red rash appears in the groin after a few days and spreads over the whole body. Treatment with antibiotics is particularly useful here because of possible late effects such as rheumatic fever and kidney damage. Meningitis can also develop from an untreated infection in the nose or throat.

If you have a headache with a fever and a stiff neck area, immediate treatment is necessary. After injuries and operations, an infection with streptococci can also cause blood poisoning (sepsis). This is a life-threatening inflammatory reaction that requires immediate treatment.