Strep B, My baby's birth injury

[tonnic]

I want to contact other mothers like me whose babies suffered at birth due to Strep B infection. I am attempting to do the best for my son by trying to take certain action but we have just reached a stumbling block. I am interested to hear whether there are any other parents out there who could share their experiences with me relating to any satisfactory (or otherwise) outcome they achieved for their baby as any information would greatly assist me and my son at this time.

Thank you very much for any input.

[GBSSadmin Partner Volunteer Group B Strep Support]

I'm so sorry to hear your baby has suffered as a result of group B Strep infection. Do get in touch with us at GBSS if we can help at all 01444 416176 / [e-mail]

If you're looking for contact from other families, you might like to post on our social media platforms - go to facebook or twitter and search for group B Strep, and we'll appear.

[tonnic in reply to GBSSadmin]

Thanks for responding to my earlier message. I have now ascertained that, after I became unwell shortly after I had given birth, my blood tests showed that I had Group A strep. I am trying to find information about Group A passing to newborns but without success. Does it mean that, in a newborn, it is then diagnosed and treated as Strep B? I also wonder why I cannot find a similar support group for Strep A. My son suffered substantial tissue necrosis to his scalp and I am trying to find information that will help him to understand what happened at the time. If I had been diagnosed with Strep B the task would be easy as there is plenty of information available. I wonder if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks for your help.

[Inkerbelle in reply to tonnic]

My understanding is that Strep A and Strep B are very different bacteria, despite having similar names. Strep A usually shows up in the form of a throat infection (I'm rather susceptible to it, as is my brother), and occasionally in other ways (my dad had nephritis several times, a potentially deadly kidney infection from Strep A, and I have an uncle who died as a child from rheumatic fever from it, before antibiotics were widely available). People tend to know if they have Strep A.

Strep B in your genital tract would not harm you; you would probably not know you had it unless you had a swab taken. Strep A in your genital tract would make you very, very unwell.

You and your son probably picked up Group A Strep from someone who coughed it on to you. You probably both had antibiotics to fight the infection.

Talk to the paediatric team who looked after your son if you have questions about his treatment and why certain things were done--or not done. Maybe you can make an outpatient appointment to discuss things; make a list of questions beforehand. If not, even your GP could fill in some blanks.

I hope your son is going from strength to strength.

[GBSSadmin Partner Volunteer Group B Strep Support in reply to tonnic]

Group A Strep and Group B Strep are two different bacteria, though from the same family of bacteria. They tend to do different things, and require different treatments. There is a support group for severe Strep A infections - see nfsuk.org.uk/. I'm sure they'll help if they can. Good luck in getting the answers you need.