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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Adults
If you're like many adults, you may carry group B strep in your body, usually in your bowel, vagina, rectum, bladder or throat. Most adults simply carry the bacterium and have no signs or symptoms.
In some cases, group B strep may cause a urinary tract infection or other more serious infections such as blood infections (bacteremia) or pneumonia.
Infants
Most babies born to women carrying group B strep are healthy. But the few who are infected by group B strep during labor can become critically ill.
In infants, illness caused by group B strep can take two forms:
Early-onset group B strep disease. This is the more common and serious form of group B strep disease in infants. A baby with early-onset group B strep disease typically becomes sick within 12 hours after birth. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Difficulty feeding
- Lethargy
Late-onset group B strep disease. Late-onset group B strep disease develops within a week to a few months after birth. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Upper respiratory infection
- Fever
- Difficulty feeding
- Lethargy
- Seizures
When to see a doctor
As an adult, if you experience any signs or symptoms of group B strep infection — particularly if you're pregnant, you have a chronic medical condition or you're older than 65 — contact your doctor right away.
If you notice your infant has any of the signs or symptoms of group B strep disease, tell your baby's doctor immediately.
- Repke JT, et al. Patient information: Group B streptococcus and pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Group B strep prevention: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/GroupBStrep/general/gen_public_faq.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Group B strep prevention: Beyond newborns and mothers - some facts about group B strep disease in the rest of the population. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/general/gen_public_adult.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Group B strep prevention: Protect your baby from group B strep! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/general/protect-your-baby-GBS.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Puopolo KM, et al. Group B streptococcal infection in pregnant women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Urinary tract infections in women. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/gen-health/190.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Puopolo KM, et al. Group B streptococcal infection in neonates and young infants. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Baron M, et al. Group B streptococcal infection in nonpregnant adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
