As six children die after Strep A outbreaks – the four symptoms no parent should ignore
SIX children have now died from the bacterial infection Group Strep A, health bodies have said.
The deaths have occurred in London, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Wales - with further cases being detected in nearby areas.
Five deaths have been recorded in England, with another in Wales.
One of which was a four-year-old boy who attended Oakridge School and Nursery in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
It comes after a student at St John's School, Green Man Gardens, in West London also died.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) – is also known as Streptococcus pyogenes - and is a bacteria that can cause mild illnesses like sore throats and skin infections, including tonsillitis cellulitis, impetigo and scarlet fever.
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In rare cases, the bacteria can trigger the life-threatening illness, invasive Group Strep A disease.
from the NHS states that there are four key signs of invasive disease:
- fever (a high temperature above 38°C (100.4°F)
- severe muscle aches
- localised muscle tenderness
- redness at the site of a wound
Invasive disease happens when the bacteria break through the body's immune defences.
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It can happen if you're already ill or have a weakened immune system.
Two of the most severe examples of invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome.
You're at increased risk of Group Strep A invasive disease if you:
- are in close contact with someone who has the disease
- are over the age of 65
- are diabetic, have heart disease or cancer
- have recently had chickenpox
- have HIV
- use some steroids or intravenous drugs, according to the NHS.
Group Strep A bacteria can also cause scarlet fever, which can be serious if it's not treated with antibiotics.
Outbreaks often occur in late winter and early spring, but it is a risk all year round.
However, one expert today said that a lack of mixing due to the Covid-19 pandemic could be behind a drop in immunity when it comes to Strep A.
During the pandemic, kids were kept off school and were unable to mix with their peers.
Dr Simon Clarke, microbiologist at the University of Reading said: "It strikes me that as we are seeing with flu at the moment, lack of mixing in kids may have caused a drop in population-wide immunity that could increase transmission, particularly in school age children."
He added that at present, he was unaware or any factors linking the four deaths that have been reported across the country.
The 12 symptoms of scarlet fever you need to know
According to the NHS the typical signs and symptoms include:
- sore throat
- skin infection, including blisters or impetigo
- high temperature
- headache
- flushed cheeks
- large pink or red rash on the skin, which is often itchy and feels like sandpaper
- swollen neck glands
- loss of appetite
- nausea or vomiting
- red lines in the folds of the body, such as the armpit, which may last a couple of days after the rash has gone
- a white coating on the tongue, which peels a few days later leaving the tongue red and swollen (this is known as strawberry tongue)
- a general feeling of being unwell
It affects mostly young children, and can now be easily treated with antibiotics.
However, in rare cases, it can cause complications – ranging from ear infections, to pneumonia, meningitis and rheumatic fever.
Milder illness
While in most cases cellulitis can be mild, the skin infection, which causes redness, swelling and pain at the site of the infection, can prove life-threatening - and trigger sepsis.
Meanwhile, impetigo is an infectious skin condition that is very common in young children, according to the NHS.
Guidance states that it starts with sores and blisters, which can often be harder to spot on brown and black skin.
The bacteria - also known as strep throat - usually causes a sore throat or skin rash and is passed by physical contact or through droplets from sneezing or coughing.
It is responsible for 15 to 40 per cent of sore throats among children, and five to 15 per cent among adults.
Cases not linked
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today said that the death in London was not linked to other cases of illness in the area.
Another child from North Ealing Primary School, in Pitshanger Lane, is currently in hospital with an unconfirmed illness.
Public Health Wales last night announced the death of a child who had attended Victoria Primary School in Penarth, four miles south of Cardiff.
Dr Ardiana Gjini, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales is working with the school to raise awareness about invasive Group Strep A disease, suggesting people familiarise themselves with the symptoms of fever, sore throat, severe muscle aches and redness at the site of a wound.
It comes after the death of a six-year-old child following an outbreak of the bacterial infection at a school in Surrey last week.
The girl who died is thought to have been a Year 1 pupil at the Ashford Church of England Primary School in Ashford, Surrey.
The UKHSA has been notified of two cases of Strep A in Year 1 and Year 6 at nearby Echelford School - while a third pupil has closely-related condition scarlet fever.
The health body had offered pupils and staff antibiotics following the death.
A letter is understood to have been sent to all parents of kids at Echelford, informing them they had switched off drinking water fountains and were monitoring pupils carefully.
In response to the child's death in Ashford, Dr Claire Winslade, health protection consultant at UKHSA South East, said: “We are extremely saddened to hear about the death of a pupil at Ashford Church of England School, and our thoughts are with their family, friends and the school community.
“As a precautionary measure, we have recommended antibiotics to pupils and staff in the same year groups as the individuals affected.
"We have provided advice to the school to help prevent further cases and will continue to monitor the situation.
“Information has been shared with parents about the signs and symptoms of invasive Group Strep A disease (iGAS), which include high fever with severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea. Anyone with these symptoms should call NHS 111 immediately.”
She added: "Infection with Group A Streptococcus bacterium usually causes a sore throat or skin rash and is passed by physical contact or through droplets from sneezing or coughing.
"In very rare cases, the infection can become invasive and enter parts of the body where bacteria aren’t normally found, which can be serious."
What to do if you or your child has scarlet fever or an invasive Strep A disease
In most cases, instances are often mild and can easily be treated with antibiotics but you should seek medical advice straight away.
Parents are advised to book an appointment for their children at their local GP if they notice symptoms of the bacterial bug.
If diagnosed, sufferers will be prescribed a course of liquid antibiotics, which are to be taken for ten days.
Symptoms often clear up within two weeks, but there can be complications of scarlet fever.
There is a small risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body, causing ear infection, sinusitis or pneumonia.
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It’s advisable to return to your GP as soon as possible if you're affected by headache, vomiting or diarrhoea after the initial scarlet fever symptoms have cleared up.