Six young children have died in the UK after contracting Strep A infection.
Health officials confirmed that a youngster from St John's School in Ealing, west London, had died from the bacterial infection, while the parents of a four-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire said he had died from Strep A. It comes after a pupil from Victoria primary school in Penarth, four miles south of Cardiff, also died, taking the known UK total to six deaths since September.
Last week, a six-year-old died after an outbreak of the same infection at a school in Surrey. Health officials are understood to have seen a slight rise in cases of Strep A, which can cause scarlet fever, though deaths and serious complications from the infection are rare.
Dr Yimmy Chow, health protection consultant at the UK Health Security Agency, said following the Ealing case: "Group A streptococcal infections usually result in mild illness, and information has been shared with parents and staff about the signs and symptoms. These include a sore throat, fever and minor skin infections and can be treated with a full course of antibiotics from the GP.
"In rare incidences, it can be a severe illness and anyone with high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should call NHS 111 and seek medical help immediately."
What is Strep A?
Group A Streptococcus (Group A Strep or Strep A) bacteria can cause many different infections. The bacteria are commonly found in the throat and on the skin, and some people have no symptoms.
Infections caused by Strep A range from minor illnesses to serious and deadly diseases. They include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat. While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria cause life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
How are Strep A bacteria spread?
The bacteria are spread by contact with an infected person or by contact with infected skin lesions. Bacteria can be passed from person to person by close contact such as kissing or skin contact. The risk of spread is greatest when somebody is ill, such as when people have strep throat or an infected wound.
What is invasive Group A Streptococcal disease?
Invasive Group A Strep disease is sometimes a life-threatening infection in which the bacteria have invaded parts of the body, such as the blood, deep muscle or lungs. Two of the most severe, but rare, forms of invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
Necrotising fasciitis is also known as the "flesh-eating disease" and can occur if a wound gets infected. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a rapidly progressing infection causing low blood pressure/shock and damage to organs such as the kidneys, liver and lungs. This type of toxic shock has a high death rate.
Can these illnesses be treated?
Strep A infections such as scarlet fever and impetigo are treated with antibiotics. After a full 24 hours of antibiotics, people are generally thought to no longer be contagious.
Anyone thought to have invasive Group A Streptococcal disease should seek medical help immediately. Antibiotics, other drugs and intensive medical attention are likely to be needed.
When should I see a doctor?
Strep throat is different from a regular sore throat and the pain can come on very quickly. Symptoms include pain when swallowing, fever, and red and swollen tonsils - sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus.
The NHS recommends people see their GP if a sore throat does not improve after a week, if they are worried or if they have a high temperature, or feel hot and shivery. People with weakened immune systems such as those having chemotherapy should also see a doctor.
Impetigo is a skin infection which starts with red sores or blisters that then burst, leaving crusty, golden patches. The infection can be treated with antibiotics.
Scarlet fever symptoms are often flu-like, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands. A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later, starting on the chest and stomach and then spreading. A white coating also appears on the tongue which peels, leaving the tongue red, swollen and covered in little bumps (often called "strawberry tongue").
Signs of necrotising fasciitis include fever (a high temperature above 38C), severe pain and swelling, and redness at the wound site. Early signs and symptoms of toxic shock may include fever, dizziness, confusion, low blood pressure, rash and abdominal pain.
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