STREPTOCOCCAL (S. PYOGENES + S. PNEUMONIAE) INFECTION IN A 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD

Abstract

SUMMARY. This article presents a clinical case of moderate scarlet fever in a 12-year-old boy with the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a throat swab. The disease developed after contact with a patient with scarlet fever and was characterized by typical clinical manifestations, including fever, tonsillitis, fine punctate exanthema with Pastia’s sign, a “strawberry” tongue, and lamellar skin desquamation during the convalescent period. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis with marked neutrophilia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and increased antistreptolysin-O levels, confirming streptococcal etiology. The identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae was interpreted as a possible manifestation of concomitant bacterial infection or transient nasopharyngeal carriage in the context of prior antibiotic therapy. Etiotropic and symptomatic treatment resulted in clinical recovery without complications. The case highlights the importance of careful interpretation of bacteriological findings, dynamic laboratory monitoring, and cardiac follow-up during convalescence to prevent late immunological complications of scarlet fever.