KEEP THEM SAFE
Urgent warning amid fears kids could pass deadly Strep A onto vulnerable grandparents as they gather for Christmas
A MEDICAL expert has warned vulnerable grandparents to be vigilant as the deadly spread of Strep A looms large this Christmas.
The death toll of children who have died with the illness has hit 16 - and statistics show the elderly are not immune.
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The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency show among those over 75 there have been 140 cases of invasive Group A Strep.
Of that group, 23 have died as a result of an infection.
Group A Streptococcus is a bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the throat.
In very rare cases, it can become invasive and enter parts of the body where bacteria are not normally found, which can be life-threatening.
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University of East Anglia medicine professor Paul Hunter told the Daily Mail that while the most common victims are children, it is crucial to remember Group A Strep can kill the elderly too.
He said: "Christmas is a time when older people and their grandchildren come together and mix.
"So families with elderly and vulnerable grandparents should think about the risk from Strep A, particularly if there is a child who has a sore throat right before Christmas, and perhaps rethink their plans.
“The risk is not huge but it's one to be aware of, and older people should make sure they have their flu jabs.”
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Group A Streptococcus — Streptococcus pyogenes — is a bacteria that can cause mild illness.
This can include sore throats and skin infections, alongside tonsillitis, cellulitis, and scarlet fever, which is flu-like and tends to occur in children - it can be serious if not treated swiftly with antibiotics.
In rare cases, the bacteria can trigger invasive Group Strep A disease, which can prove life-threatening and even fatal.
The infection is starting to spread among UK communities, with 169 children under 15 contracting invasive Strep A.
There have been 13 confirmed deaths in England, one in Northern Ireland and one in Wales, just this winter.
Yesterday a pupil in Hove, East Sussex, also died with a suspected invasive Strep A infection, bringing the total to 16.
The heads of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal
College of Emergency Medicine and Royal College of General Practitioners said in a joint statement: "We’d like to reassure parents and carers that this specific infection is common and treatable.
"The UKHSA are monitoring the situation closely and healthcare
professionals are on high alert."
The signs of Strep A you need to know
There are four key signs of Group Strep A to watch out for, according to the NHS. These are:
- A fever (meaning a high temperature above 38°C)
- Severe muscle aches
- Localised muscle tenderness
- Redness at the site of a wound
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