General Information About BETA Infection
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
Colloquially known simply as BETA, it is a severe throat and tonsil infection caused by a bacterium called Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus.
It is transmitted rapidly from person to person through inhaling droplets spread into the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes, kissing, or through shared items (glasses, spoons).
Sudden onset of fever of 39 degrees Celsius and above, severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, white/yellow purulent patches on the tonsils, and painful swelling in the neck lymph nodes.
BETA is bacterial; it generally starts directly with a severe sore throat and fever, without a runny nose or cough. In a cold (viruses), cough and runny nose are prominent.
During a doctor's examination, the cause of the infection is definitively identified using a Rapid Antigen Test (Strep A) or a Throat Culture performed on a swab sample taken from the throat.
Even if the BETA infection heals, the bacteria can remain in the body and lead to Heart Rheumatism (Acute Rheumatic Fever) and kidney inflammation in the following weeks. A 10-day penicillin/antibiotic treatment is mandatory to prevent this.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
