Symptoms

Infants

Most babies born to women carrying group B strep are healthy. But the few who are infected by group B strep during labor can become critically ill.

In infants, illness caused by group B strep can be within six hours of birth (early onset) — or weeks or months after birth (late onset).

Signs and symptoms might include:

• Fever
• Low body temperature
• Difficulty feeding
• Sluggishness, limpness or weak muscle tone
• Difficulty breathing
• Irritability
• Jitteriness
• Seizures
• Rash
• Jaundice

Adults

Many adults carry group B strep in their bodies — usually in the bowel, vagina, rectum, bladder or throat — and have no signs or symptoms.

In some cases, however, group B strep can cause a urinary tract infection or other more-serious infections. Signs and symptoms of infections that may be caused by group B strep include the following.

Urinary tract infection

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation or pain when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola colored — a sign of blood in the urine
• Pelvic pain

Blood infection (bacteremia)

• Fever
• Chills
• Confusion or lack of alertness

Pneumonia

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain when you breathe or cough

Skin or soft-tissue infection

• Swelling, warmth or redness in the area of the infection
• Pain in the area of the infection
• Lesions with pus or drainage

Bone or joint infection

• Fever
• Chills
• Swelling, warmth or redness over the area of the infection
• Pain in the area of the infection
• Stiffness or inability to use a limb or joint

When to see a doctor

If you have signs or symptoms of group B strep infection — particularly if you're pregnant, you have a chronic medical condition or you're older than 65 — contact your doctor right away.

If you notice your infant has signs or symptoms of group B strep disease, contact your baby's doctor immediately.