The number of deaths in Ireland as a result of invasive Strep A has risen to 16 since October 2022, with six of those children.
Of the children who died four were under the age of 10 and two were among 10 to 17 year olds. And in the adults the 10 deaths were between the ages of 50 and 96.
There has been a rise in the number of people with invasive Group A Streptococcus in Ireland since October and up until February 25 there were 152 cases. Around 48 of those cases were in children under the age of nine.
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Before the pandemic the number of child cases would have been around 25% but this has risen to 37%. And the spread of the infectious bacteria has primarily been outside its usual peak of the first six months of the year.
There are currently studies underway to determine if the increase in cases at the end of 2022 was linked to a particular strain. It is predicted that the return to socialising after pandemic social distancing could also have a part to play.
Symptoms of iGAS include:
- A high fever
- Severe muscle aches
- Redness or blisters at the site of a wound
- Localised muscle tenderness in one area
- Low blood pressure and dizziness
- Confusion
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Stomach Pain
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