Information about Group A Strep infections

You may be concerned by reports in the media about serious illness caused by Group A Strep, which has been linked to a number of deaths around the country. Find out more about the illness, what to look out for, and what to do if you think you're affected. Group A streptococcus, also called Group A Strep or GAS, is a common bacterium that often lives on people's skin or in their throats. It doesn't always cause illness but can cause mild infections or, in very rare cases, a severe and life-threatening infection. What kind of mild infections does GAS cause? . A mild GAS infection will usually affect the skin, soft tissues and respiratory tracts - for example tonsilitis, pharyngitis and impetigo are all caused by GAS. GAS also causes scarlet fever, a flu-like infection that's accompanied by a sore throat, swollen neck glands and a rash that develops 12-48 hours later.
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