Amid warnings about the spread of the potentially lethal Group A Strep infection - which has seen at least nine children die in recent weeks around the UK - cases of related illnesses are growing in our area.
Though often innocuous and responsible for minor illness, Group A Strep bacteria can in rare cases cause scarlet fever or get into the bloodstream and cause a condition known as Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS). Like in the rest of the country, the UK Health Security Agency is reporting increases in both conditions in the North East.
In the two weeks to December 4, there were 93 cases of scarlet fever, though just one - in Redcar and Cleveland - of IGAS. Scarlet fever is "usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious", according to the UKHSA. While, regarding IGAS, the agency added: "These infections are caused by the bacteria getting into parts of the body where it is not normally found, such as the lungs or bloodstream. In rare cases an iGAS infection can be fatal."
Read more: How does Strep A bacteria spread, what infections can it cause and how does it become invasive?
Advice for worried parents from the UKHSA includes to especially vigilant for symptoms in your child. The guidance highlights these include "a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel". The UKHSA added: "On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.
"Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection. If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others."
Nationally, in the week ending December 4 there were 1131 cases of scarlet fever. A week earlier there were 991 and the week before that 950. That's more than four times the average for this time of year.
In the North East, there were a total of 59 scarlet fever cases in the seven days to December 4 and 34 the week before that. The area with the most over that time frame is County Durham (28), with 16 in Redcar and Cleveland, 13 in Middlesbrough and 12 in Northumberland. There have been cases in Newcastle (8), Gateshead (2), North Tyneside (5), Sunderland (4), Hartlepool (2), Darlington (1) and Stockton-on-Tees (2).
In the same fortnight period there has been just one case of IGAS in our region. However it has been recorded around the country with 18 cases nationwide.
To use the North East and North Cumbria NHS symptom checker and find further advice, click here.
READ NEXT:
- Antibiotics could be given to children in schools to stop Strep A, reports say
Strep A tests sell out online as parents try to buy at-home kits
- Northumbria Healthcare and contractors who built new Cramlington hospital settle £140m court case
- What do we know about NHS strikes this month - and how will North East hospitals and the ambulance service be affected?
- Thousands raised after jiu-jitsu fighter's horror double leg break puts new career on hold and leaves him with money worries
