From the Guidelines
Yes, babies can get strep throat, though it's less common in infants under 3 years old. Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria that affects the throat and tonsils. Symptoms in babies may include fever, irritability, decreased appetite, swollen glands, and sometimes a red, sore throat, though babies often can't communicate throat pain.
Key Considerations
- According to the most recent and highest quality study 1, testing for GAS pharyngitis is not recommended for children under 3 years old unless they have other risk factors, such as an older sibling with GAS infection.
- If strep throat is suspected, parents should take their baby to a healthcare provider who can perform a rapid strep test or throat culture.
- Treatment typically involves antibiotics, most commonly amoxicillin (40-50 mg/kg/day divided into two doses for 10 days) or penicillin if the child isn't allergic, as recommended by 1.
- It's crucial to complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve, as untreated strep throat can lead to complications like rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.
Prevention and Hygiene
- While strep throat is contagious, good hygiene practices like handwashing and avoiding sharing utensils can help prevent its spread within households.
- Diagnostic testing or empiric treatment of asymptomatic household contacts of patients with acute streptococcal pharyngitis is not routinely recommended, as stated in 1.
From the Research
Can Babies Get Strep Throat
- Strep throat, caused by Group A streptococcus (GAS), can occur at all ages, but it is most common in school-aged children with a peak at 7-8 years of age 2.
- Pharyngitis caused by GAS is rare in children <3 years of age and becomes much less common in late adolescence through adulthood 2.
- There is no specific information in the provided studies about the incidence of strep throat in babies, but it can be inferred that it is unlikely due to the rare occurrence in children under 3 years old 2.
- The diagnosis and treatment of strep throat in children, including those under 3 years old, would follow the same guidelines as for older children and adults, including the use of rapid antigen testing and antibiotic treatment with penicillin or amoxicillin 3, 4.
- It is essential to note that the provided studies do not specifically address the topic of strep throat in babies, and more research would be needed to determine the incidence and best treatment approaches for this age group.