Not a Virus - but Streptococcus (Strep) is known to cause personality changes as well
My uncle had Scarlet fever back in the 1930's. Before he got sick with Scarlet Fever, he was a very nice, quiet and bright child. After he recovered there was a major personality change and he became quite a problem. His personality changed dramatically and he caused problems for the rest of his life. My Grandparents saw this change and figured that it was the Strep causing the change (my Grandfather was an eye, ear, nose and throat doctor).
What my Grandparents saw and believed turned out to be quite correct and validated decades later. Strep can cause personality changes in children in addition to a list of other dreadful issues including death.
My Mother's Mother had Rheumatic fever as a child, before antibiotics, and had severe heart valve damage. She died in her late 30's due to the mitral valve being damaged. My mother was only 8 years old at the time. Rheumatic fever is also caused by Strep.
I have long wondered if the Strep infection doesn't somehow enter into one's DNA, change it's character, etc and move down the generations resulting in other diseases, symptoms, etc.
Below is just a grab bag of Strep, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever and the symptoms.
Because my family is aware of the damage down by a "simple" strep, we are on guard when the young ones get what we think is a strep throat and force the doctors into testing for strep throat. They don't seem to know or remember the damage that Strep can cause. So just be warned. Strep is bacterial, not viral, but the damage is can cause is horrendous.
I have wanted to get in the many risks of Strep into the conversation but there was no real entry. So I am grabbing the Insanity Virus thread to show that not only viruses can damage the brain and change the personality but so to bacterial infections that we believe to be common (they are) but tey are also quite serious.
Sorry to steal your thread. And thank you for posting this information on this Insanity virus. I agree with all the comments made before me. I do think that at some point we won't really need the shrinks. I hope so anyway.
When I was first sick with CFS/FM I really believed that the neurologists and the infectious disease doctors would be my primary care doctors. NOPE! Neither group of doctors had a clue about CFC/FM nor did they want any involvement in it at all. I believe the main reason was that they knew they would be labeled as NUTS and QUACKS because the CDC did such a great number in damning us CFS sick as crazy and thus, those doctors that treated us would also be nuts and quacks.
So again, Great Job CDC!!! The damage you have caused millions and millions worldwide is part of the reason that no one will ever trust the CDC and anything that comes out of it.
Anyone notice that no one is lining up for the Flu Shots? I have seen FREE FLU SHOTS given at CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. NO ONE is in line and the poor nurse is just sitting there doing nothing. Few people are bothering to get the Flu shot esp. when they find out that the Swine Flu vaccine is in this years Flu shot. Want Swine Flu? Then get the vaccine like my sister's poor boyfriend did and was so sick for 2 weeks he and my sister thought he might need to be hospitalized. The next two weeks he was terribly ill and it took about another month for the coughing, sick feeling, etc to finally go away. In his case, the doctor just gave him the vaccine before he had a chance to say NO!
I guess that doctor was trying to get rid of his stock of Flu/Swine Flu vaccines and so he would hit people without asking. Needless to say, my sister and her boyfriend will not be going back to that doctor.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus
http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/streptococcus.html
Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcal Disease (page 1)
2008 Kenneth Todar, PhD
Introduction
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococcus) is a Gram-positive, nonmotile, nonsporeforming coccus that occurs in chains or in pairs of cells. Individual cells are round-to-ovoid cocci, 0.6-1.0 micrometer in diameter (Figure 1). Streptococci divide in one plane and thus occur in pairs or (especially in liquid media or clinical material) in chains of varying lengths. The metabolism of S. pyogenes is fermentative; the organism is a catalase-negative aerotolerant anaerobe (facultative anaerobe), and requires enriched medium containing blood in order to grow. Group A streptococci typically have a capsule composed of hyaluronic acid and exhibit beta (clear) hemolysis on blood agar.
Figure 1. Streptococcus pyogenes. Left. Gram stain of Streptococcus pyogenes in a clinical specimen. Right. Colonies of Streptococcus pyogenes on blood agar exhibiting beta (clear) hemolysis.
Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most frequent pathogens of humans. It is estimated that between 5-15% of normal individuals harbor the bacterium, usually in the respiratory tract, without signs of disease. As normal flora, S. pyogenes can infect when defenses are compromised or when the organisms are able to penetrate the constitutive defenses. When the bacteria are introduced or transmitted to vulnerable tissues, a variety of types of suppurative infections can occur.
In the last century, infections by S. pyogenes claimed many lives especially since the organism was the most important cause of puerperal fever (sepsis after childbirth). Scarlet fever was formerly a severe complication of streptococcal infection, but now, because of antibiotic therapy, it is little more than streptococcal pharyngitis accompanied by rash. Similarly, erysipelas (a form of cellulitis accompanied by fever and systemic toxicity) is less common today. However, there has been a recent increase in variety, severity and sequelae of Streptococcus pyogenes infections, and a resurgence of severe invasive infections, prompting descriptions of "flesh eating bacteria" in the news media. A complete explanation for the decline and resurgence is not known. Today, the pathogen is of major concern because of the occasional cases of rapidly progressive disease and because of the small risk of serious sequelae in untreated infections. These diseases remain a major worldwide health concern, and effort is being directed toward clarifying the risk and mechanisms of these sequelae and identifying rheumatogenic and nephritogenic strains of streptococci.
Acute Streptococcus pyogenes infections may present as pharyngitis (strep throat), scarlet fever (rash), impetigo (infection of the superficial layers of the skin) or cellulitis (infection of the deep layers of the skin). Invasive, toxigenic infections can result in necrotizing fasciitis, myositis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Patients may also develop immune-mediated post-streptococcal sequelae, such as acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis, following acute infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.
Streptococcus pyogenes produces a wide array of virulence factors and a very large number of diseases. Virulence factors of Group A streptococci include: (1) M protein, fibronectin-binding protein (Protein F) and lipoteichoic acid for adherence; (2) hyaluronic acid capsule as an immunological disguise and to inhibit phagocytosis; M-protein to inhibit phagocytosis (3) invasins such as streptokinase, streptodornase (DNase B), hyaluronidase, and streptolysins; (4) exotoxins, such as pyrogenic (erythrogenic) toxin which causes the rash of scarlet fever and systemic toxic shock syndrome.
Classification of Streptococci
Hemolysis on blood agar
The type of hemolytic reaction displayed on blood agar has long been used to classify the streptococci. Beta -hemolysis is associated with complete lysis of red cells surrounding the colony, whereas alpha-hemolysis is a partial or "green" hemolysis associated with reduction of red cell hemoglobin. Nonhemolytic colonies have been termed gamma-hemolytic. Hemolysis is affected by the species and age of red cells, as well as by other properties of the base medium. Group A streptococci are nearly always beta-hemolytic; related Group B can manifest alpha, beta or gamma hemolysis. Most strains of S. pneumoniae are alpha-hemolytic but can cause -hemolysis during anaerobic incubation. Most of the oral streptococci and enterococci are non hemolytic. The property of hemolysis is not very reliable for the absolute identification of streptococci, but it is widely used in rapid screens for identification of S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae.
Antigenic types
The cell surface structure of Group A streptococci is among the most studied of any bacteria (Figure 2). The cell wall is composed of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid, the standard peptidoglycan. Historically, the definitive identification of streptococci has rested on the serologic reactivity of "cell wall" polysaccharide antigens as originally described by Rebecca Lancefield. Eighteen group-specific antigens (Lancefield groups) were established. The Group A polysaccharide is a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine and rhamnose. Some group antigens are shared by more than one species. This polysaccharide is also called the C substance or group carbohydrate antigen.
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http://zahsihsayru.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/what-is-rheumatic-fever-what-causes-rheumatic-fever/
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop as a complication of a streptococcus infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever (caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus). If it does develop, it will usually do so two to three weeks after the Group A streptococcal infection.
Rheumatic fever mainly affects children aged between 5 and 15 years; however, it can affect adults and younger children. Boys and girls have the same risk of developing the disease; girls and women tend to have more severe symptoms.
The disease may cause long term effects on the skin, heart, brain and joints. Rheumatic fever may cause permanent damage to the heart valves (rheumatic heart disease). Rheumatic fever has the potential to cause heart failure, stroke and even death.Even though there is no current cure for rheumatic fever, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and anticonvulsants may be used to relieve symptoms and prevent recurrences.
The disease is fairly rare in most developed nations, but is still common in many other parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, south central Asia, and the indigenous population of Australia and New Zealand. Before the widespread introduction of antibiotics and increased levels of public sanitation and living standards, rheumatic fever used to be one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in developed nations.
The National Health Service (NHS), UK, estimates that approximately 1 in every 100,000 people is affected by rheumatic fever in England annually.
Patients aged between 25 and 35 years may have recurring episodes of rheumatic fever.
According to Medilexicons medical dictionary:
Rheumatic Fever is a subacute febrile syndrome occurring after group A β-hemolytic streptococcal infection (usually pharyngitis) and mediated by an immune response to the organism; most often seen in children and young adults; features include fever, myocarditis (causing tachycardia and sometimes acute cardiac failure), endocarditis (with valvular incompetence, followed after healing by scarring), and migratory polyarthritis; less often, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, and Sydenham chorea; relapses can occur after reinfection with streptococci.
What are the signs and symptoms of rheumatic fever?
A symptom is something the patient feels and reports, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor detect. For example, pain may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign.
Largest morbidity mortality study in chronic heart failure According to The Mayo Clinic (USA), rheumatic fever signs and symptoms generally develop 2 to 4 weeks after a streptococcal throat infection (1 to 5 weeks according to the National Health Service, UK).
As you can see below, there are many possible signs and symptoms linked to rheumatic fever a patient will not necessarily have them all:
Arthritis (joint pain and swelling) generally starts in the knees and ankles, and then works its way to other joints in the body
Bumps and lumps (nodules) under the skin
Chest pain
Chorea uncontrollable jerking of knees, elbows, wrists and ankles
Headache
High fever above 39C (102F)
Inappropriate crying or laughing
Irritability, moodiness
Nosebleeds
Pain in one joint that migrates to another joint
Pain in the abdomen
Palpitations sensation that the heart is fluttering or pounding hard
Panting (shortness of breath)
Red blotchy skin rash
Short attention span
Sweating
Tiredness (fatigue)
Vomiting
Weight loss
What are the risk factors for rheumatic fever?
A risk factor is something which increases the likelihood of developing a condition or disease. For example, obesity significantly raises the risk of developing diabetes type 2. Therefore, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes type 2.
Genetics some individuals possibly carry genes (or a gene) that make them more susceptible to developing rheumatic fever. A person with a family history of rheumatic fever has a higher risk of developing it himself/herself.
Type of strep bacteria some strep bacteria strains are more likely to lead to rheumatic fever than others. Environment such factors are overcrowding, poor sanitation and poor access to healthcare increase the risk of rheumatic fever.
What are the causes of rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever may develop as a complication after a throat infection with Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus (a bacterium). Strep throat, and less commonly scarlet fever are infections caused by Group A streptococcus infections. Group A streptococcus skin infections, as well as infections in other parts of the body may lead to rheumatic fever (much less common).
Although experts are not completely sure what the link between strep infection and rheumatic fever is, they believe that the bacterium upsets the patients immune system. Strep bacteria have a protein which is similar to one found in some tissues in our body. Immune system cells that would usually target the bacterium may subsequently start attacking the bodys own tissues, as if they were toxins or infectious agents; especially tissues of the heart, joints, CNS (central nervous system) and skin, resulting in inflammation.
Inflammation can cause the following symptoms:
Inflammation of the heart chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath
Inflammation of the joints arthritis symptoms
Inflammation of the skin skin rashes and nodules
Inflammation of the CNS (central nervous system) chorea (jerking), personality changes
If the patient who is infected with strep bacteria takes the complete antibiotic treatment, the chances of rheumatic fever developing are negligible (zero or tiny). However, if the patient has at least one episode of untreated strep throat or scarlet fever, his/her risk of developing rheumatic fever increases significantly.
Diagnosis of rheumatic fever
According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, there are so many different rheumatic fever symptoms that a checklist is needed to help in the diagnosis process this checklist is called the Jones Criteria. The Jones Criteria involves checking whether the patient has specific signs and symptoms strongly linked to rheumatic fevers. These signs and symptoms are collectively known as criteria.
There are two types of criteria:
Major criteria signs and symptoms are strongly linked to rheumatic fever. They include:
Inflammation of the heart (carditis)
Several joints have become swollen, painful and stiff (polyarthritis)
The patient has jerky involuntary movements (chorea)
There is a red or pink skin rash (erythema marginatum)
There are small nodules (lumps and bumps) under the skin, especially on the elbows, ankles, knees and knuckles (subcutaneous nodules)
Minor criteria signs and symptoms are moderately linked to rheumatic fever:
The patient has joint pain, but it is not as severe as arthritis joint pain (arthralgia)
Elevated body temperature usually over 102F (39C)
Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP) types of blood tests that detect inflammatory conditions
Irregular heart rhythm
A confident rheumatic fever diagnosis can be made if:
Two or more major criteria are detected
One major and two minor criteria are detected
Some of the signs and symptoms may be detected just by examining and interviewing the patient. Others will require testing. Testing may include:
ECG (electrocardiogram) up to 12 adhesive electrodes are attached to the skin on certain parts of the body, usually the arms, legs and chest. The ECG (a device) measures the electrical activity of the patients heart, revealing any possible abnormalities in heart rhythms. Abnormal heart rhythms usually occur when there is inflammation of the heart a common complication of rheumatic fever. Early detection with subsequent prompt treatment is important.
Electrocardiography this device uses sound waves that produce images of the heart. The test enables the doctor to see whether there is any inflammation of the heart. Heart valve damage, if present, may also be revealed in this test (much less likely early on in the disease).
Blood tests
CRP rates blood tests can detect higher-than-normal levels of CRP (C reactive protein), which is produced by the liver. High CRP blood levels means there is inflammation.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) a sample of red blood cells are placed in a test tube of liquid, their rate of descent is measured. If the cells descend faster than normal it could mean the patient has an inflammatory condition.
Test for strep infection if the patient has already been diagnosed with a strep infection the doctor may not order additional tests.
What are the treatment options for rheumatic fever?
The medical teams aims are to destroy the bacteria, relieve symptoms, control inflammation and prevent recurrences of rheumatic fever.
Antibiotics the patient, usually a child, will probably be prescribed penicillin or some other antibiotic to destroy any remaining strep bacteria in the body.
Preventing recurrence after completing the full course of antibiotics, the patient will be prescribed another course of antibiotics to prevent recurrence. This preventive treatment will generally continue until the patient is about 20 years old. If the patient is older, for example a teenager when rheumatic fever develops for the first time, preventive treatments may continue beyond the age of 20 years.
Heart inflammation some patients may be advised to continue taking preventive antibiotic treatment for much longer, in some cases for the rest of their lives.
It is important to get rid any streptococcocal bacteria. If any is left inside the body and the patient has another throat infection, there is a serious risk of a recurrence of rheumatic fever. Repeated occurrences of rheumatic fever significantly raise the risk of heart damage (sometimes permanent).
Anti-inflammatory treatment an anti-inflammatory drug, such as or naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, etc.) may be prescribed. These medications reduce pain, inflammation and fever. A corticosteroid, such as prednisone may be prescribed if the patient does not respond to anti-inflammatory medications or there is inflammation of the heart.
Aspirin is not usually recommended for children aged less than 16 years because there is a risk of developing Reyes syndrome, which can cause liver and brain damage, and even death. However, an exception is usually made when the child has rheumatic fever because the dose is small and the results are very good in other words, the benefits are far greater than the risks.
Anti-convulsant medications if chorea symptoms are severe an anticonvulsant, such as valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor) or carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro) may be prescribed.
Long term care any child who had rheumatic fever will need to know later on that he/she once had rheumatic fever. As an adult the individual should discuss this with his/her doctor. Heart damage from rheumatic fever may not appear for many years after the illness.
What are the possible complications of rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever symptoms, specifically inflammation, may persist for several weeks, months, and in some cases much longer, causing long-term problems.
Rheumatic heart disease the most common and most serious complication. According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, an estimated 9% to 34% of rheumatic fever cases have this complication. Rheumatic heart disease means permanent damage to the heart caused by the inflammation of rheumatic fever. The most common complication occurs with the mitral valve the valve between the two left chambers of the heart. Sometimes other valves may also be affected. The following conditions may result:
Valve stenosis the valve narrows, causing a drop in blood flow.
Valve regurgitation blood flows in the wrong direction because of a leak.
Heart muscle damage inflammation can weaken the heart muscle, leading to improper pumping function of the heart.
These conditions may also develop if there is damage to heart tissue, and/or damage to the mitral valve or other heart valves:
Heart failure even though it may sound like it, heart failure does not necessarily mean that the heart has failed. Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart is not pumping blood around the body efficiently. The patients left side, right side, or even both sides of the body can be affected.
Atrial fibrillation the human heart has two upper chambers and two lower chambers. The upper chambers are called the left atrium and the right atrium the plural of atrium is atria. The two lower chambers are the the left ventricle and the right ventricle. When the two upper chambers the atria contract at an excessively high rate, and in an irregular way, the patient has atrial fibrillation.