BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPerianal streptococcal cellulitisStreptococcal proctitis; Proctitis - streptococcal; Perianal streptococcal dermatitisPerianal streptococcal cellulitis is an infection of the area around the anus and rectum. The infection is caused by streptococcus bacteria. Causes Perianal streptococcal cellulitis usually occurs in children. It often appears during or after strep throat, nasopharyngitis, or streptococcal skin infection (impetigo).Strep throatStrep throat is a disease that causes a sore throat (pharyngitis). It is an infection with a bacteria called group A streptococcus.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ImpetigoImpetigo is a common skin infection.Read Article Now Book Mark Article The skin around the anus may get infected while a child wipes the area after using the toilet. The infection can also result from scratching the area with fingers that have bacteria from the mouth or nose. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Fever Itching, pain, or bleeding with bowel movements Redness around the anus Exams and Tests Your health care provider will examine the child and ask about the symptoms.Tests that may be done include:Rectal swab culture Rectal swab cultureRectal culture is a lab test to identify bacteria and other germs in the rectum that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin culture from rectal area Throat cultureThroat cultureA throat swab culture is a laboratory test that is done to identify germs that may cause infection in the throat. It is most often used to diagnose ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The infection is treated with antibiotics for about 10 days, depending on how well and quickly they are working. Penicillin is the most often used antibiotic in children.Topical medicine can be applied to the skin and is commonly used with other antibiotics, but it should not be the only treatment. Mupirocin is a common topical medicine used for this condition. Outlook (Prognosis) Children usually recover quickly with antibiotic treatment. It is important to contact your provider if your child does not get better soon on antibiotics. Possible Complications Complications are rare, but may include:Anal scarring, fistula, or abscess FistulaA fistula is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AbscessAn anorectal abscess is a collection of pus in the area of the anus and rectum.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bleeding, discharge Bloodstream or other streptococcal infections (including heart, joint, and bone) Kidney disease (acute glomerulonephritis) GlomerulonephritisGlomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Severe skin and soft tissue infection (necrotizing fasciitis)Necrotizing fasciitisNecrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare but very severe type of bacterial infection. It can destroy the muscles, skin, and underlying tissue. T...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your child's provider if your child complains of pain in the rectal area, painful bowel movements, or other symptoms of perianal streptococcal cellulitis.If your child is taking antibiotics for this condition and the area of redness gets worse, or the discomfort or fever is increasing, contact your provider immediately. Prevention Careful handwashing may help prevent this and other infections caused by bacteria carried in the nose and throat.To prevent the condition from coming back (relapse), be sure your child finishes all the medicine the provider prescribes.Open ReferencesReferencesPaller AS, Mancini AJ. Bacterial, mycobacterial, and protozoal infections of the skin. In: Paller AS, Mancini AJ, eds. Paller and Mancini - Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.Shulman ST, Patel AB. Group A streptococcus. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 229.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Strep throat(Condition) Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Perianal streptococcal cellulitisStreptococcal proctitis; Proctitis - streptococcal; Perianal streptococcal dermatitisPerianal streptococcal cellulitis is an infection of the area around the anus and rectum. The infection is caused by streptococcus bacteria. Causes Perianal streptococcal cellulitis usually occurs in children. It often appears during or after strep throat, nasopharyngitis, or streptococcal skin infection (impetigo).Strep throatStrep throat is a disease that causes a sore throat (pharyngitis). It is an infection with a bacteria called group A streptococcus.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ImpetigoImpetigo is a common skin infection.Read Article Now Book Mark Article The skin around the anus may get infected while a child wipes the area after using the toilet. The infection can also result from scratching the area with fingers that have bacteria from the mouth or nose. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Fever Itching, pain, or bleeding with bowel movements Redness around the anus Exams and Tests Your health care provider will examine the child and ask about the symptoms.Tests that may be done include:Rectal swab culture Rectal swab cultureRectal culture is a lab test to identify bacteria and other germs in the rectum that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin culture from rectal area Throat cultureThroat cultureA throat swab culture is a laboratory test that is done to identify germs that may cause infection in the throat. It is most often used to diagnose ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The infection is treated with antibiotics for about 10 days, depending on how well and quickly they are working. Penicillin is the most often used antibiotic in children.Topical medicine can be applied to the skin and is commonly used with other antibiotics, but it should not be the only treatment. Mupirocin is a common topical medicine used for this condition. Outlook (Prognosis) Children usually recover quickly with antibiotic treatment. It is important to contact your provider if your child does not get better soon on antibiotics. Possible Complications Complications are rare, but may include:Anal scarring, fistula, or abscess FistulaA fistula is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AbscessAn anorectal abscess is a collection of pus in the area of the anus and rectum.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bleeding, discharge Bloodstream or other streptococcal infections (including heart, joint, and bone) Kidney disease (acute glomerulonephritis) GlomerulonephritisGlomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Severe skin and soft tissue infection (necrotizing fasciitis)Necrotizing fasciitisNecrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare but very severe type of bacterial infection. It can destroy the muscles, skin, and underlying tissue. T...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your child's provider if your child complains of pain in the rectal area, painful bowel movements, or other symptoms of perianal streptococcal cellulitis.If your child is taking antibiotics for this condition and the area of redness gets worse, or the discomfort or fever is increasing, contact your provider immediately. Prevention Careful handwashing may help prevent this and other infections caused by bacteria carried in the nose and throat.To prevent the condition from coming back (relapse), be sure your child finishes all the medicine the provider prescribes.Open ReferencesReferencesPaller AS, Mancini AJ. Bacterial, mycobacterial, and protozoal infections of the skin. In: Paller AS, Mancini AJ, eds. Paller and Mancini - Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.Shulman ST, Patel AB. Group A streptococcus. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 229.