Liv Hospital health content is written by a content specialist, verified by an independent expert and medically approved by a physician in the relevant field.
- Uğurkan DemirWriter
- Lamiya GurbanovaFact-checker
- Asst. Prof. MD. Nazlı CafMedical reviewer
Uğurkan Demir is a Medical Content Writer with experience creating clear, well-researched,…
View author profile →
Dr. Lamiya Gurbanova is a physician who completed her specialization training in…
View profile →
Approved this content for clinical accuracy in their specialty.
View doctor profile →We review our content at regular intervals and update it whenever new research or a change in clinical guidelines requires it.
Overview
What Is a Streptococcal Infection of the Skin?
Streptococcal infection of the skin occurs when streptococcal bacteria enter broken, irritated or damaged skin. These bacteria can cause impetigo, cellulitis or erysipelas, which affect different layers and areas of the skin. Some infections are superficial, while others can spread deeper and become serious. A group A streptococcal infection can affect people of any age, especially when the skin barrier is damaged or the immune system is weakened.
Symptoms
Symptoms
- Localized redness
- Warmth over the affected skin
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Pain
- Rapidly spreading skin changes
- Blisters or sores
- Pus or drainage
- Crusting over sores
- Fever
- Chills
- Swollen nearby lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
Seek care promptly
Worsening symptoms can signal a deeper infection
Rapidly worsening redness, severe pain, fever, confusion or appearing very ill can indicate a serious infection. Seek prompt medical assessment rather than waiting for the skin changes to settle.
How It Spreads
How Streptococcal Skin Infections Spread
Streptococcal bacteria commonly enter through cuts, cracks, insect bites, eczema, ulcers or other breaks in the skin. Some infections spread through direct contact with infected sores or drainage, or through contaminated towels, razors and other items. Spread is more likely with close contact, open or draining wounds, and poor hand hygiene.
- Cover draining sores with a clean dressing and change it as directed.
- Wash your hands regularly, especially after touching the affected skin or changing a dressing.
- Do not share towels, razors, clothing or other personal items.
- Clean frequently touched items and surfaces that may have contacted drainage.
- Follow prescribed treatment and any guidance about school, work or close contact.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Medical and skin-related factors
Risk is higher in young children and older adults, and in people with weakened immunity, diabetes, poor circulation, lymphedema or chronic swelling. Eczema, athlete’s foot, a previous cellulitis infection, wounds and recent surgery can also make it easier for bacteria to enter the skin.
Exposure and modifiable factors
Insect bites, untreated skin breaks, close contact with infected sores and crowded living conditions can increase exposure. Prompt wound care, good hygiene and treatment of eczema or fungal infections may reduce some of these risks.
Complications
Complications
- An abscess, which is a pocket of pus that may need drainage.
- Recurrent cellulitis infection in the same area or another part of the skin.
- Persistent or worsening lymphatic swelling.
- Spread into deeper tissues beneath the skin.
- Bloodstream infection (bacteremia).
- Sepsis, a dangerous whole-body response to infection.
- Necrotizing fasciitis, a rare but life-threatening infection of deeper tissue.
- Post-streptococcal immune complications affecting other organs.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis usually begins with a medical history and examination of the skin. A clinician considers the appearance, location, tenderness, speed of spread and possible entry point, along with symptoms such as fever. A typical cellulitis infection is often diagnosed from these findings without routine laboratory testing.
When testing may be needed
| Presentation | Typical pattern | How clinicians distinguish it |
|---|---|---|
| Impetigo | Superficial sores that may blister or develop a honey-colored crust. | The shallow crusted or blistering appearance and location help guide diagnosis; a swab may be used in selected cases. |
| Erysipelas | A raised, sharply defined area of bright redness and swelling, often with fever. | The raised, clearly bordered appearance and rapid onset help distinguish it from deeper cellulitis. |
| Cellulitis | Warm, tender, swollen redness with less clearly defined edges that may spread. | Examination, the rate of spread and possible entry point are considered; drainage may be cultured when available. |
| Deeper infection | Rapid progression, severe pain, blisters, discoloration or marked whole-body illness. | Urgent assessment may include blood tests, imaging, cultures or surgical evaluation; readers should not self-diagnose. |
Treatment & Management
Treatment and Management
- Keep the area clean and covered with a dressing as directed.
- Elevate a swollen limb when resting, if advised by your clinician.
- Manage pain with treatments recommended for you.
- Treat athlete’s foot or eczema to reduce ongoing breaks in the skin.
- Complete prescribed antibiotics even if symptoms begin to improve.
- Avoid sharing towels, razors and other personal items.
Severe infection
Some infections need hospital treatment
An abscess may need to be opened and drained by a clinician. Rapidly spreading, deep, systemic or necrotizing infections may require intravenous antibiotics, surgery and hospital monitoring.
Prevention
Prevention
- Wash your hands regularly and after touching wounds or dressings.
- Clean cuts and promptly cover them with a clean dressing.
- Avoid sharing towels, razors or other personal items.
- Keep fingernails short to reduce skin damage from scratching.
- Manage eczema and athlete’s foot with appropriate medical advice.
- Protect your skin during activities that may cause cuts, bites or friction.
- Seek care early if a wound becomes increasingly red, warm, painful or swollen.
People with repeated cellulitis infection may need a clinician-led plan to manage swelling, fungal infection, eczema, wounds or another underlying cause. These steps can lower the chance of recurrence, but they cannot eliminate every future infection.
Outlook and Prognosis
Outlook and Prognosis
Many uncomplicated streptococcal infections improve with appropriate treatment. Redness, warmth or swelling may take time to fully settle even after the bacteria are controlled. Severe, delayed, recurrent or deeper infections have a more guarded outlook and may need additional treatment.
When Should You See a Doctor
When Should You See a Doctor?
- Arrange prompt care for redness or swelling that is spreading.
- Seek medical advice for increasing pain or warmth.
- Have pus, drainage or a worsening wound assessed.
- Contact a clinician if you develop a fever.
- Seek prompt evaluation for an infection near the eye.
- Arrange early care if you have diabetes or weakened immunity.
- Discuss recurrent infections with a clinician.
- Seek reassessment if there is no improvement after treatment begins.
Get urgent help
Some signs may indicate a serious infection
Seek urgent or emergency care for severe pain out of proportion to the skin findings, rapidly spreading changes, blisters or skin discoloration, confusion, faintness or breathing difficulty. Get immediate help if the person appears severely ill.
Symptoms
1 topic
Streptococcal Infection Of The Skin
Unexplained Skin Rash
