Health experts have moved to reassure parents after a sixth child died of Strep A in the UK. Over the last week, the bacterial infection has claimed the lives of Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Hanna Reap, seven, from Penarth, Wales, a six-year-old from Ashford in Surrey and a primary-school aged child from north Ealing, London.
Two other English youngsters aged under 10 - whose names, ages and locations have not been made public - also passed away within seven days of being diagnosed, although the dates of their deaths are not yet know. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told the Mirror that scarlet fever infections are up this year compared to normal - and health chiefs warned parents to be on the lookout for deadly warning signs that could turn into invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
But this afternoon (December 2), a spokesperson for the UKHSA said: "Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating. The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing."
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They added: "There are lots of viruses that cause sore throats, colds and coughs circulating. These should resolve without medical intervention.
"However, children can on occasion develop a bacterial infection on top of a virus and that can make them more unwell." According to the NHS, Group A Streptococcus is the name given to a type of bacteria sometimes found in the throat or on the skin.
Infections usually result in mild illness but can become the more serious invasive Group A Strep - also known as iGAS. According to the World Health Organisation 500,000 people die from iGAS each year.
Official data from the UKHSA shows that for every 100,000 cases of scarlet fever, 3.1 people will develop iGAS. However, the rate is around nine per 100,000 for babies under one and eight per 100,000 for children aged one to four.
Dr Colin Brown, deputy director at the UKHSA, said: "We are seeing a higher number of cases of Group A strep this year than usual. The bacteria usually causes a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can be easily treated with antibiotics.
"In very rare circumstances, this bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness – called invasive iGAS. This is still uncommon, however, it is important that parents are on the lookout for symptoms and see a doctor as quickly as possible so that their child can be treated and we can stop the infection becoming serious.
"Make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is showing signs of deteriorating after a bout of scarlet fever, a sore throat, or a respiratory infection." Dr Simon Clarke, microbiologist at the University of Reading, told the Mirror: "Group A Streptococcus is a spherical bacteria, roughly one thousandth of a millimetre in diameter which is fairly common and lives primarily in the throat and is carried around by some people without ever causing them any problems.
"But sometimes it causes disease which can range from mild cases of sore throat to more serious illnesses like scarlet fever and in rare incidences necrotising fasciitis, otherwise known as 'flesh eating disease'. It's important to remember that infections like this never occur at a constant rate, you get peaks and troughs in numbers and from that we work out an average.
"There is a suggestion that there have been more cases lately than we would expect, but that might be a statistical blip. It's also important to stress that this infection, when diagnosed quickly, can easily be treated with antibiotics, and only in extreme cases does it need hospitalisation.
"I'm unaware of any factor linking these reported deaths, so it's impossible to link them, but I do expect there to be further cases over the coming weeks and months. It strikes me that as we are seeing with flu at the moment, lack of mixing in kids may have caused a drop in population-wide immunity that could increase transmission, particularly in school age children."
Advice for parents
As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact NHS 111 or 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 three months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than three 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 A&E 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
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 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.
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