Group A Streptococcal Infection (Strep A) in Grand Rapids, MI

Group A Streptococcus (GAS), also called Group A Strep, Strep A, or Streptococcus pyogenes, is a type of bacteria that can cause a wide range of infections. These infections can be:

  • Mild (like strep throat or impetigo)
  • Moderate (like cellulitis or scarlet fever)
  • Severe and life-threatening (called invasive group A streptococcal disease, or iGAS)

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, GAS infections are commonly seen in primary care offices, urgent care clinics, and emergency departments at hospitals such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health facilities.

Cold, crowded indoor environments during Michigan winters can increase the spread of respiratory infections like strep throat, especially among school-aged children.

Common Group A Strep Infections

Strep Throat and Tonsillitis

Strep throat is a throat infection caused by Group A Strep. When the tonsils are involved, it is called tonsillitis.

Typical symptoms include:

  • Sore, red throat
  • Red, swollen tonsils (sometimes with white patches or pus)
  • Pain or difficulty when swallowing
  • Fever and chills
  • Swollen and tender lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
  • Headache and muscle aches
  • Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain (especially in children)
  • General feeling of being unwell (malaise)
  • Loss of appetite

In Grand Rapids, children with these symptoms are often evaluated in pediatric offices, school-based health centers, urgent care clinics, or emergency rooms at local hospitals.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is a type of Group A Strep infection that usually starts as strep throat and then develops a characteristic rash. It most often affects school-aged children.

Symptoms are similar to strep throat and may also include:

  • A pink or red rash that:
    • Often starts on the face or neck
    • Spreads to the chest, arms, legs, and body
    • Feels like sandpaper to the touch
    • Is more noticeable in skin folds (armpits, groin, elbows, knees)
  • A flushed face with paleness around the mouth
  • A bright red, bumpy “strawberry tongue”

If scarlet fever is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as acute rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart.

Streptococcal Skin Infections

Group A Strep can also cause several skin infections, which are especially common in children and in people with skin injuries, eczema, or poor circulation.

Impetigo (“School Sores”)

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection, especially common in school-aged children and in group settings like Grand Rapids schools, daycares, and sports teams.

Symptoms include:

  • Red spots or patches on the skin that develop into blisters
  • Blisters that break open and form a yellow-brown crust or scab
  • Areas most often affected:
    • Around the nose and mouth
    • On the arms and legs
  • Itching or mild discomfort

Children with impetigo should have all exposed sores covered with a watertight dressing before returning to school, daycare, or sports.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a deeper skin infection that can occur anywhere on the body but is often seen on the legs, arms, or face.

Symptoms of cellulitis include:

  • Redness, warmth, and swelling of the skin
  • Pain or tenderness in the affected area
  • Fever and chills
  • Swollen and tender lymph nodes

Cellulitis can spread quickly and may require urgent medical care, especially if it worsens rapidly or is accompanied by high fever.

Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease (iGAS)

Sometimes, Group A Strep bacteria enter parts of the body that are normally sterile (such as the blood, lungs, brain, or deep tissues). These serious infections are called invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) and are medical emergencies.

Serious iGAS conditions include:

  • Pneumonia (lung infection)
  • Bacteremia / Septicemia (bloodstream infection)
  • Meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings)
  • Osteomyelitis or Septic Arthritis (bone or joint infection)
  • Necrotizing Fasciitis (“flesh-eating” infection of deep tissues)
  • Toxic Shock Syndrome (severe whole-body reaction)
  • Maternal Sepsis (infection during pregnancy or after childbirth)

General symptoms of iGAS can include:

  • High fever and chills
  • Severe feeling of illness or weakness
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Severe muscle aches
  • Shortness of breath or chest pain
  • Neck stiffness or severe headache
  • Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
  • Redness, warmth, swelling, severe pain, bleeding, pus, or ulcers at a wound or infection site
  • Sensitivity to light (photophobia)

People with iGAS are usually very sick and often require urgent hospital care, usually in emergency departments and intensive care units at hospitals like Corewell Health Butterworth, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department in Grand Rapids if you suspect a severe infection.

Complications of Group A Strep Infection

Without proper treatment, Group A Strep infections can lead to serious complications, even after the initial infection seems to improve.

Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an inflammatory disease that can develop after an untreated or poorly treated strep throat or scarlet fever.

It can cause inflammation in:

  • Skin
  • Joints
  • Heart
  • Brain

Over time, ARF can damage the heart valves, leading to rheumatic heart disease, a serious long-term heart condition.

While ARF is relatively rare in the U.S., early diagnosis and treatment of strep throat in Grand Rapids are crucial to prevent this complication. Completing the full course of antibiotics greatly reduces this risk.

Kidney Disease (Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis)

Group A Strep can also trigger a rare kidney condition called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. This usually occurs 1 to 3 weeks after a strep throat or skin infection and is more common in children.

Symptoms may include:

  • Dark, cola-colored, or discolored urine
  • Decreased urination
  • Swelling, especially:
    • Around the eyes and face
    • In the hands and feet
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • High blood pressure (sometimes)

Diagnosis is made using:

  • Physical examination
  • Urine tests
  • Blood tests to check kidney function
  • Tests to detect recent Group A Strep infection

Treatment focuses on:

  • Controlling swelling
  • Managing blood pressure
  • Sometimes using antibiotics if infection is still present

Most people recover within a few weeks, but some may develop long-term kidney problems, so follow-up with a healthcare provider in Grand Rapids is important.

How Group A Strep Spreads in Grand Rapids

GAS is spread from person to person, mainly through:

  • Respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking
  • Close contact with an infected person
  • Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the bacteria, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
  • Contact with infected skin sores or wounds

People can carry the bacteria in their throat or on their skin without symptoms and still spread it to others.

Outbreaks can occur in:

  • Childcare centers and preschools
  • Elementary and middle schools
  • Long-term care and residential facilities
  • Hospitals and healthcare settings

GAS infections can affect people of all ages, but:

  • Strep throat, scarlet fever, and impetigo are most common in school-aged children
  • Severe iGAS infections are more likely in:
    • Older adults
    • Newborns and very young infants
    • People with chronic illnesses (diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease)
    • People with weakened immune systems
    • People with skin injuries, wounds, or chronic skin conditions

Diagnosis of Group A Strep Infections

In Grand Rapids, Group A Strep infections are diagnosed by healthcare providers in:

  • Primary care offices
  • Pediatric clinics
  • Urgent care centers
  • Emergency departments

Diagnosis is based on:

  • Clinical examination
  • Laboratory testing to detect the bacteria

The type of sample depends on the suspected infection:

  • Throat swab – for strep throat or scarlet fever
  • Skin swab – for impetigo or skin infections
  • Blood tests – for bloodstream infections or iGAS
  • Cerebrospinal fluid – for suspected meningitis
  • Other body fluids or tissue samples – if deeper infections are suspected

Rapid strep tests and throat cultures are commonly used in Grand Rapids clinics and hospitals.

Treatment of Group A Streptococcal Infections

Antibiotic Treatment

Antibiotics are the main treatment for Group A Strep infections. They:

  • Shorten the duration of symptoms
  • Reduce the risk of complications (like acute rheumatic fever)
  • Lower the chance of spreading infection to others

Common treatments include:

  • Oral antibiotics (for strep throat, scarlet fever, mild skin infections)
  • Intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the hospital (for severe or invasive infections)

It is very important to:

  • Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed
  • Complete the entire course, even if you feel better early
  • Follow up with your healthcare provider if symptoms do not improve or worsen

Untreated or partially treated infections can lead to serious illness and increase the risk of complications.

Hospital Care for Severe Infections

People with invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) often need:

  • Hospital admission
  • IV antibiotics
  • Fluids and supportive care
  • Sometimes surgery to remove infected tissue (for necrotizing fasciitis)
  • Intensive care monitoring

Emergency and inpatient care is available at major Grand Rapids hospitals, including Corewell Health Butterworth, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Metro Health – University of Michigan Health.

Preventing Group A Strep Infections in Grand Rapids

Everyday Prevention

The best way to prevent getting or spreading Group A Strep is to practice good hygiene, especially during the long indoor months of West Michigan winters:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water, especially:
    • After coughing or sneezing
    • Before eating or preparing food
    • After using the bathroom
  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing
  • Avoid sharing:
    • Drinking glasses
    • Eating utensils
    • Water bottles
    • Towels or personal items
  • Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered until healed

School, Childcare, and Work Guidelines

To reduce spread in Grand Rapids schools, daycares, and workplaces:

  • Children with Group A Strep infections should not go to school, daycare, or other children’s settings until:
    • They have received at least 24 hours of antibiotic treatment, and
    • They feel well enough to participate in normal activities
  • People with strep infections should not prepare food for others while sick
  • Children with impetigo should have all exposed sores covered with a watertight dressing before returning to school or childcare

Preventive Antibiotics

In some situations, preventive antibiotics may be recommended, such as:

  • Close contacts of someone with severe iGAS
  • People at higher risk of serious infection
  • During an outbreak in a closed setting (for example, a long-term care facility)

Your Grand Rapids healthcare provider or the Kent County Health Department may advise you if preventive treatment is needed.

Local Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are concerned about Group A Strep infection, you can:

  • Contact your primary care provider or pediatrician
  • Visit a local urgent care or walk-in clinic
  • Go to the emergency department for severe symptoms

For public health information, outbreak guidance, and local resources, you can reach out to:

  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs

These agencies provide education, surveillance, and support for infectious disease control in the Grand Rapids area.

Key Points About Group A Strep in Grand Rapids

  • Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a bacteria that can cause infections ranging from mild (strep throat, impetigo) to life-threatening (iGAS).
  • Symptoms vary depending on the type of infection and may include sore throat, fever, rash, skin redness and swelling, or severe illness.
  • Some people carry GAS in their throat or on their skin without symptoms but can still spread the bacteria.
  • Antibiotic treatment is essential to:
    • Treat infection
    • Prevent complications like acute rheumatic fever and kidney disease
    • Reduce spread to others
  • Impetigo (“school sores”) and strep throat are common among school-aged children in Grand Rapids, especially during the school year and winter months.
  • Good handwashing, respiratory hygiene, and staying home while contagious are key to preventing spread in homes, schools, and workplaces across West Michigan.

If you suspect a Group A Strep infection, especially in a child or older adult, seek medical care promptly from a Grand Rapids healthcare provider.