Rare diseases: Unusual strep throat case causes Michigan dad to lose hands and feet
- 7 years ago
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — A father of three from Michigan is thankful to be alive after suffering an extremely rare case of strep throat that led to the amputation of his hands and feet.
Kevin Breen’s body went into severe septic shock when a strep throat infection made its way into his abdomen, causing three liters of pus to surround his organs, the Washington Post reported.
Side effects from the medication that saved the 44-year-old’s life shut off blood to his hands and feet, leaving doctors with no option but to amputate.
Streptococcal pharyngitis is an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. The most common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other common symptoms are red, swollen tonsils, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth.
Strep throat spreads through contact with droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough. This typically occurs when a person comes into contact with the bacteria and then touches their eyes, mouth, or nose.
It’s also possible to catch strep throat by drinking from the same glass or eating from the same plate as an infected person, or by touching skin sores caused by the bacteria.
Doctors believe Breen caught strep throat after his son was infected with the bacteria. Doctors stressed, however, that cases such as Breen’s are extremely rare, and advised anyone with a sore throat to seek medical attention.
Kevin Breen’s body went into severe septic shock when a strep throat infection made its way into his abdomen, causing three liters of pus to surround his organs, the Washington Post reported.
Side effects from the medication that saved the 44-year-old’s life shut off blood to his hands and feet, leaving doctors with no option but to amputate.
Streptococcal pharyngitis is an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. The most common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other common symptoms are red, swollen tonsils, and tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth.
Strep throat spreads through contact with droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough. This typically occurs when a person comes into contact with the bacteria and then touches their eyes, mouth, or nose.
It’s also possible to catch strep throat by drinking from the same glass or eating from the same plate as an infected person, or by touching skin sores caused by the bacteria.
Doctors believe Breen caught strep throat after his son was infected with the bacteria. Doctors stressed, however, that cases such as Breen’s are extremely rare, and advised anyone with a sore throat to seek medical attention.