Concern is growing about Strep A infections after the deaths of several children in recent months.
Eight children in the UK and one in the north are reported to have died as a result of rare but severe complications of Strep A since September.
The HSE is currently investigating the death of a child in Ireland to see if it’s linked to the infection.
READ MORE: How to protect your child from Strep A - from symptoms to subtle behavioural changes
It comes as the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has issued an update to the Irish public, explaining everything we know so far.
What is it?
“Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a common bacteria. Lots of us carry it in our throats and on our skin and it doesn’t always result in illness. However, GAS does cause a number of infections, some mild and some more serious.
“GAS causes infections in the skin, soft tissue and respiratory tract. It’s responsible for infections such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, scarlet fever, impetigo and cellulitis among others.
“The most serious infection caused by GAS occurs when it becomes invasive (invasive group A strep). This can happen when a person has sores or open wounds that allow the bacteria to get into the tissue, damage in their respiratory tract after a viral illness, or in a person who has a health condition that reduces their immunity to infection. When the immune system is compromised, a person is more vulnerable to invasive disease.
“This is called invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) and in rare cases it can be fatal.
“Whilst iGAS infections are still uncommon, there has been a small increase in cases this year reported in the UK, particularly in children under 10 and sadly, a small number of deaths.”
Number of confirmed cases in Ireland
“There has been a small increase in iGAS in Ireland since the beginning of October.
“To date in 2022, HPSC has been notified of 55 iGAS cases in Ireland, 14 were in children aged under 10 years old compared to 22 cases in children aged under 10 for the same period in 2019.
“Twenty-one of the 55 iGAS cases notified in Ireland in 2022 have been reported since the beginning of October, 4 of whom were aged under 10 years old.”
Symptoms to look out for
"GAS infections cause various symptoms such as sore throat, fever, chills and muscle aches.
"As a parent, if you feel that your child is seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement.
Contact your GP if:
your child is getting worse
your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39C or higher
your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
your child is very tired or irritable
Call 999 or go to an Emergency Department if:
your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
there are pauses when your child breathes
your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake"
Can adults get it?
"Yes, adults can get it. However, the most serious infection caused by GAS occurs when it becomes invasive (invasive group A strep).
"iGAS infections are most common in the elderly, the very young, or people with an underlying risk factor"
How is it spread?
“GAS is spread by close contact with an infected person and can be passed on through coughs and sneezes or from a wound. Some people can have the bacteria present in their body without feeling unwell or showing any symptoms of infections and while they can pass it on, the risk of spread is much greater when a person is unwell.”
How to protect yourself
“Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs.
"By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up, or spreading, infections.”
What is being done about it?
“Investigations are underway following reports of an increase in lower respiratory tract Group A Strep infections in children in the UK over the past few weeks, which have caused severe illness. Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating in Ireland.
Why are cases increasing?
“The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria. It isn’t possible to say for certain what is causing higher than usual rates of these infections. There is likely a combination of factors, including increased social mixing compared to the previous years as well as increases in other respiratory viruses.
“During the pandemic, normal social mixing patterns were interrupted which led to changes in how diseases such as iGAS presented.”
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