Each year, millions of bacterial infections of varying severity occur in Americans of all ages. While most bacterial infections are minor, some may be life threatening or pose a risk of permanent tissue damage. Judicious use of antibiotics is the standard therapeutic intervention for most common bacterial infections.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a common infection caused by group A streptococci. In an entry on MedlinePlus, Dr. Linda Vorvick advises that all age groups are susceptible to strep throat, but the illness is most common in children ages 5 to 15. The illness typically begins with the abrupt onset of sore throat and fever, often 101 degrees Farenheit or higher. Nausea, vomiting and headache may occur. The lymph nodes in the upper neck may be swollen and tender. The development of a rough, red rash may occur on the second or third day of the illness. Resolution of the rash occurs in approximately one week, followed by flaking and peeling of the affected skin. Possible infectious complications of strep throat include cellulitis or abscess formation in the tonsils, sinusitis and middle ear infection. The Mayo Clinic advises that prompt antibiotic treatment of strep throat resolves the infection and avoids possible long-term complications, including rheumatic fever and the kidney disorder glomerulonephritis.
Folliculitis and Boils
Hair grows from structures called hair follicles in the skin. A localized, superficial infection of the hair follicles is termed folliculitis. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is the usual causative agent of this common skin infection, notes the Cleveland Clinic. Infected hair follicles appear as raised red bumps, which are often tender. Topical antibiotics are typically used to treat folliculitis. Folliculitis can progress to a deeper skin infection forming boils or furuncles. Tender, intensely red, raised lumps approximately one-half to one inch across develop. A yellowish center representing pus accumulation often forms. Boils may spontaneously rupture, releasing pus and cellular debris. Rupture relieves pain and inflammation, but new lesions may form in the surrounding skin. Oral antibiotics may be required for large or recurrent boils.
Chlamydia
Surveillance data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that chlamydia is the most frequent reportable infectious disease among Americans. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. More than 1.2 million cases of chlamydia were reported to CDC in 2008. In most people, chlamydia infection does not cause symptoms. Vaginal or urethral discharge and minor burning on urination occurs in a minority of those infected with the Chlamydia bacterium. Untreated chlamydia leads to pelvic inflammatory disease in approximately 10 to 15 percent of affected women. Pelvic inflammatory disease may cause infertility due to scarring of the female reproductive organs. Pregnant women with chlamydia can transmit the infection to their babies, frequently causing eye infections and pneumonia in newborns. Antibiotic treatment of a woman and her sexual partners effectively clears chlamydial infection. However, repeat infections may occur.
