Dozens of suspected cases of the frightening Group A Strep virus have been identified by GPs in the North East so far this year - with County Durham among the hardest hit areas of England.
Medics continue to monitor an out of season rise in Strep A infections. Though the virus itself isn't necessarily something to worry about, it can cause the lethal iGAS (Invasive Group A Streptococcus) infection and scarlet fever. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed there have been 94 deaths from iGAS across England between September 12 and December 18.
That is including 21 children under the age of 18. This is a rare, but severe and sometimes life-threatening infection caused when Strep A bacteria invade parts of the body it is not normally found in - such as the lungs or the bloodstream. Warning signs include fever and severe muscle aches.
Read more: Five more children die from invasive Strep A as scarlet fever cases jump to almost 30,000
Such infections are notifiable conditions that are tracked on a weekly basis by the UKHSA, along with diseases including tuberculosis and Legionnaires' Disease, as well as other illnesses caused by Strep A bacteria, such as scarlet fever. When GPs diagnose a suspected case of a Strep A infection they are required to notify the UKHSA and infections are then logged in weekly NOIDS (Notification of Infectious Diseases) reports.
Analysis of these reports - which provide an early warning of potential outbreaks of serious diseases - shows that doctors in the North East have identified 33 potential cases of invasive group A streptococcal disease since the start of this year.
Six suspected cases were identified in County Durham, five in Newcastle upon Tyne, four in Sunderland, three in South Tyneside, two in each of Darlington, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees, and one in Hartlepool.
Only Cornwall, and Ealing, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark in London, have seen more cases over the year.
In the past week alone the UKHSA received 25 iGAS notifications - the highest number received during a single week, including two of the suspected cases in the North East. These are separate from lab-confirmed reports which are only available at a national level and are used to inform overall totals.
The UKHSA has also received notifications of four “unspecified” Streptococcal infections and six case of Streptococcal pharyngitis, or “Strep throat” - a bacterial infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics - in the North East. According to the latest lab-confirmed figures, there have been 960 cases of iGAS in England since September.
The UKHSA says the number of Strep A infections identified is unusually high for the time of year. In most years, the high point comes from February to April. Over 52 weeks In 2017-18, the last time there were comparatively high figures, there were a total of 2,967 cases.
The most recent figures showing cases since September include 214 children under the age of 10. That compares to 311 cases among children under the age of 10 across the full 2017-18 season.
Meanwhile, between September 12 and December 18 this year, there have been 27,486 notifications of scarlet fever, a manifestation of Strep A infection. That compares to 3,287 at the same point in 2017-18 - although cases began to rise at a different point that year and there were a total of 30,768 scarlet fever notifications overall across the year.
Speaking to ChronicleLive earlier in December, Dr George Rae - a senior Whitley Bay GP - said: " "These infections caused by Strep A are usually very minor but can range from a sore throat to scarlet fever. But they can also develop into the most serious IGAS.
"Mums and dads should be told that in the first instance if your child has a sore throat, swollen glands in the neck and a bit of a temperature, just to give them some form of paracetamol. But if that temperature persists, or a child develops a sandpapery rash and in particular is especially lethargic, then that is time to call NHS 111 or your GP. We are of course doing absolutely everything we can to help."
Dr Colin Brown, deputy director of the UKHSA, said: “Scarlet fever and ‘strep throat’ will make children feel unwell, but can be easily treated with antibiotics. Symptoms to look out for include fever, sore throat, swollen glands, difficulty swallowing, and headache. Scarlet fever causes a sandpapery rash on the body and a swollen tongue. NHS services are under huge pressure this winter, but please visit NHS.UK, contact 111 online or your GP surgery if your child has symptoms of scarlet fever or ‘strep throat’ so they can be assessed for treatment.
“At this time of year, there are lots of winter illnesses circulating that can make children unwell. Most of these can be managed at home and NHS.UK has information to help parents look after children with mild illness.
“It is very rare that a child will go on to become more seriously ill, but as parents you know better than anyone else what your child is usually like, so you'll know when they are not responding as they would normally. Make sure you speak to a healthcare professional if your child is getting worse after a bout of scarlet fever, a sore throat or respiratory infection – look out for signs such as a fever that won’t go down, dehydration, extreme tiredness, intense muscle pains, difficulty breathing or breathing very fast.”
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