What is type E strep, and how seriouse are the diseases it causes?

Question

Looking it up on the CDC website, type E strep is a subdivision of the beta-hemolitic strep group. Apparently, this group has been subdivided into types A-H. It doesn't say specifically which strains of bacteria belong to this type, or what diseases it causes. I was diagnosed with an infection of this type of strep in a throat culture, though I had no symptoms. My 2 year old's pediatrician had ordered the culture because she kept getting recurrent colds, and the last time it was tonsilitis.

Answer 1

I'm not aware of "Type E Strep". There are different types of Streptococcal species, and they are classified according to different way in which they cause "hemolysis" (alpha or beta type). Alpha type STreptococci include Strep pneumoniae (causes pneumonia), Strep viridans (endocarditis (infection of the heart)). The beta type hemolytic Streptococci are further subdivided into group A, B, C, and D. Strep pyogenes is a group A, and this is probably the most common strep infection...sore throat, skin infection (impetigo, cellulitis, erysipelas). Group B such as Strep agalactiae causes diabetic ulcer, C: also ulcers, sometimes endocarditis, D: are the Enterococci which are found in the bowel, can cause urinary tract infection and also endocarditis. I don't know where you got the type E strep from...maybe it's meant to be group A? or is it perhaps Enterococci which is group D?
All strep infections, like any othe bacterial infections, can cause significant illness depending on the extent of infection, site that's affected, and your immune system integrity. But most will be amenable to antibiotic therapy. Talk to your doctor and find out.