A health expert has warned people to look out for certain 'red flag' symptoms which could be a sign your child has Strep A.
Dr Hilary appeared on Good Morning Britain to warn parents that although it's rare for the bacterial disease to be life-threatening, it's important to be vigilant and spot the signs as early as possible.
It comes as Strep A infections in Scotland have shot up in recent weeks, with health officials reporting 437 cases in the past fortnight.
According to Public Health Scotland, there have been no deaths from Strep A in this country, but nine children have died elsewhere in the UK from the illness.
The public health body said that peaks of Strep A can occur every three to four years, but social distancing measures during the pandemic may have interrupted this cycle and explain the current increase being that's happening.
Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to deadly diseases. These can include scarlet fever, impetigo and strep throat, and while life-threatening illnesses are rare, it's important to be on the lookout for symptoms.
Liverpool Echo reports that Dr Hilary issued some advice on Good Morning Britain about the steps to take if your child falls ill.
He said: "Invasive Strep A is a rare disease. While it's killed eight children [correct figure at the time] it's very very unusual to see such serious illnesses - we're talking of a rate of 2.3 in 100,000 children.
"However, it doesn't make it any easier for a parent who is worrying about their children. 'When is a sore throat significant, when should I go and see a doctor?' Especially when it's so difficult to see a doctor, you know, what should they do?
"I think the best advice I can give is to be vigilant. Look out for the red flag symptoms which are severe sore throat, white spots on the back of the tonsils and back of the throat."
He explained that parents should be able to see any white spots in their child's throat themselves, and suggested using a spoon to press their tongue down and get a better look.
He added: "A fever is always going to occur with a Strep A infection and sometimes this rash, which is small red bumps that feel like sandpaper."
The doctor urged parents to be "assertive" when trying to get a doctor's appointment, and to be very clear about the symptoms as the child will need to be seen if they have a fever.
If parents can't secure an appointment or a callback from 111, they'll need to take the child to A&E.
Strep A co mmon symptoms
The symptoms of a Strep A infection often depend on whereabouts in the body it develops.
According to the NHS, Here are the symptoms and signs of some different types of Strep A infections and where they can appear on the body.
- Strep throat symptoms may include a sore throat and tonsils, pain when swallowing, fever, muscle aches and pains, and tiredness.
- Scarlet fever symptoms include a very red, sore throat, swollen glands and fever. Around 12 to 48 hours after infection, red blotches can appear on the skin, usually on the face, neck, underarms or groin. Red bumps can also form on the tongue, sometimes called a ‘strawberry tongue’.
- Impetigo causes sores on the skin that tend to form blisters. These blisters can burst and leave a moist area with a yellow brown crust at the edge.
- Cellulitis involves an area of skin becoming red and inflamed, painful and swollen, while the skin will often feel tight and warmer to the touch than the surrounding skin.
- Necrotising fasciitis is a serious skin infection that can cause deep, painful skin sores as well as fever, diarrhoea or vomiting, septic shock and organ failure.
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