Strep throat infections are highly contagious and can be easily spread in large group settings like schools or daycare.
“Strep tends to be more prevalent in the pediatric population,” Brunner says. “That is because kids are more apt to put dirty hands in their mouths and they also have larger tonsils, which could contribute to it as well.”
Because of repeated exposure, older kids, teenagers, and adults typically have more immunity to strep than younger children, which is why strep is less common in these age groups, says Geevarghese.
Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes, also called group A streptococcus. Strep throat can occur at any age, even during infancy. However, strep throat is most common in school-age children.
Strep A infections are more common in children, but adults can also sometimes get them. Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems.
Risk factors. Group A strep pharyngitis can occur in people of all ages. It is most common among children 5 through 15 years of age. It is rare in children younger than 3 years of age.
It's extremely unlikely that your baby will get strep. Babies rarely become infected, probably because the antibodies they receive before birth are still at work and most babies have very small tonsils.
If a compromised immune system isn't an issue, the other most likely reason why you or a loved one seems more prone to strep is due to age and lifestyle factors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that parents or people who are regularly around children are more likely to get strep throat, too.
If you are in overall poor health or have an immune system that isn't working the way it should, you are most vulnerable. Resistance to antibiotics. Because it is a bacterial infection, most providers prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection, with penicillin or amoxicillin.
A combination of genetic and immunological factors makes some children susceptible to the bacteria that cause strep throat. Summary: Each year, some 600 million people around the world come down with strep throat.
“A lot of viruses give you a long-term or lifetime immunity such as chicken pox, but strep is a bacteria that does not give long-term immunity. It is cured with antibiotics, but the potential to be reinfected is always there,” she said.
Hidden Immunity
Some people are just immune to strep throat for some reason, but they can carry the bacteria and spread it without knowing it. These folks are fortunate, but it's bad news for the rest of us.
Strep throat is most common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15. Certain strains of strep throat can cause a red rash known as scarlet fever or a skin infection called impetigo. Luckily, antibiotics can speed up the recovery process and reduce the amount of time a person's contagious.
The germs are transferred through close contact with the sick person's mouth or droplets from a cough or a sneeze. There is about a 25 percent chance of spreading strep to household contacts.
But it's not common. Studies show only 5% to 15% of adults who have a sore throat end up having strep throat.
Pollution or Smoke Exposure. Whether you smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke, your throat and airways are likely to be irritated by the particulate matter. This leaves the throat prone to infection from strep and viruses. Air pollution can do the same.
Strep throat and scarlet fever are most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15 years. Impetigo is most common in children between the ages of 2 and 5 years.
You can also contract the illness if you share food or beverages with someone with strep throat. You can also develop strep throat from touching surfaces infected with the group A Streptococcus bacteria. People with or without tonsils are susceptible to a strep infection.
When a sore throat comes on fast, it may be caused by the bacteria streptococci (strep-tuh-kaak-sai), or strep. Strep throat is most common in school-age children, but anyone can get it. Strep throat can be spread to others. It is contagious.
Strep throat in toddlers and babies isn't all that common. But it's still possible for your little one to contract the infection, and if she does, it's important for her to see her pediatrician. Spotting a possible case of strep in kids under 3 isn't always easy, though.
Avoid contact with anyone who has strep throat until they've been prescribed and on antibiotics for at least 24 hours. Don't share food, drinks, or eating utensils with others. Additionally, avoid sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes.
Strep throat, otherwise known as group A strep, is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils. The bacteria that causes strep throat is called group A streptococcus. It is most common among school-aged children and teenagers between 5 and 15.
Strep throat is very contagious. Anybody can get it, but most cases are in school-age kids and teens. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old. It is very rare in children younger than 3 years old.