Group A streptococcal infections in children

J Paediatr Child Health. 2007 Apr;43(4):203-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01051.x.

Abstract

The group A streptococcus causes the widest range of disease in humans of all bacterial pathogens. Group A streptococcal diseases are more common in children than adults with diseases ranging from pharyngitis and impetigo to invasive infections and the post-streptococcal sequelae--acute rheumatic fever and acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. The global burden of severe group A streptococcal disease is concentrated largely in developing countries and Indigenous populations such as Aboriginal Australians. Control of group A streptococcal disease is poor in these settings and the need for a vaccine has been argued. With an ever-increasing understanding of the group A streptococcus at a molecular level, new and sophisticated vaccines are currently in human trials and the next decade holds exciting prospects for curbing group A streptococcal diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Glomerulonephritis / drug therapy
  • Glomerulonephritis / epidemiology
  • Glomerulonephritis / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Pharyngitis / drug therapy
  • Pharyngitis / epidemiology
  • Pharyngitis / physiopathology
  • Poverty
  • Pyoderma / drug therapy
  • Pyoderma / epidemiology
  • Pyoderma / physiopathology
  • Rheumatic Fever / drug therapy
  • Rheumatic Fever / epidemiology
  • Rheumatic Fever / physiopathology
  • Streptococcal Infections* / complications
  • Streptococcal Infections* / drug therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Streptococcal Infections* / immunology
  • Streptococcal Infections* / physiopathology
  • Streptococcal Vaccines
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / pathogenicity*
  • Victoria

Substances

  • Streptococcal Vaccines