Expert: Lawrence Jay Rappaport <B>M.D.</B> - 3/5/2005

Question
Hello. I'm 36, have 2 children and am due on 4-11. I have all symptoms of strep throat. Fever, sore throat, white spots on tonsils. Are there any threats to the baby?  

Answer
Certainly, if you have a sore throat and fever, a throat culture should be done. If it is, indeed, a streptococcal infection, you should be treated with antibiotics. However, a throat infection should not cause any harm or threat to the baby.  At 36 weeks, you will be tested for Group B Streptococcus (in the vagina), by taking a swab of your vagina and rectum. If that comes back positive for Strep., you will be treated with antibiotics at the time that you go into labor (around 4 weeks later). As long as you are treated during labor (only if the GBS was positive in the vagnia), there is also no harm to the baby.