What are streptococcus bacteria?

Streptococcus bacteria are tiny little bugs that can live on your body and sometimes make you sick.

Imagine you're playing with a group of friends in the sandbox, and one kid starts to sneeze, that's like what happens when streptococcus bacteria get into your nose or throat. These bugs love to hang out in warm places, like inside your mouth or on your skin.

If you could see them under a special magnifying glass, they would look like little round balls, kind of like the small marshmallows you put in hot chocolate. They stick together in groups that look like chains, just like links in a bracelet.

Sometimes these bacteria decide to party inside your body and cause trouble. That’s when you get things like sore throats or even little red bumps on your face, like when you have a boil after poking yourself with a stick!

But don’t worry, just like how a big kid can help a little kid feel better, doctors and medicine can help you beat the streptococcus bugs too.