A desperate pharmacist is begging the Government for help after running dangerously low on antibiotics to treat Strep A.
Amo Sohal, who owns Kitsons Pharmacy in Worcester, said the spike in Strep A cases has led to soaring demand for penicillin and amoxicillin.
Despite ministers claiming there are enough drugs around, he said: "I have never seen this sort of shortage before."
Mr Sohal said: “The situation has changed a lot in the last 48 hours. People are coming to us with prescriptions that we just can’t get hold of from our suppliers.
“It’s so difficult when you can’t get prescriptions for people who need them. It is a very worrying picture, and we need support.”
The pharmacy is also experiencing shortages of omeprazole, which is used to treat stomach problems, Mr Sohal said.
He explained: “I think it is a very confusing picture at the moment. We are not sure what is happening and there is very little guidance from the NHS and authorities.
“Community pharmacies like us need as much support as possible to make sure we can obtain reasonable supplies.”
Customers also expressed their frustration after they struggled to collect antibiotics for their children.
Mum-of-one Sarah Taylor, 29, said she scoured several pharmacies in Worcester for liquid penicillin for her nine-year-old son who has gone down with Strep A.
She said: “I thought my child had tonsillitis but after a doctor’s trip he was told it was suspected Strep A.
“It’s been impossible to find the medication and I have only managed to get it in tablet form as opposed to liquid, which is going to be hard for my nine-year-old to take.
“At school, there does seem to be a mad panic over the rise of Strep A due to the shortages of the medication to treat it.
“My son has suffered with a fever and is really struggling to swallow. His throat is red raw.
“But now I have the seven-day treatment of antibiotics, he will thankfully be on the mend and should lose his fever in the next 24 hours.
“I think there is a concern about the shortages, and I am worried they are just giving the medicine away to everyone rather than giving it out when it is actually needed.”
Strep A is a common type of bacteria, and most cases are mild and easily treated, but some cases do become life-threatening.
The common symptoms of infection are flu-like symptoms, a high temperature, a sore throat, severe muscle aches, and a rough rash across the body.
To date, 15 children under the age of 15 in the UK have died from the illness - including 13 in England and two in Belfast and Wales.
The National Pharmacy Association is a trade association for independent community pharmacies, such as Kitsons.
A spokesperson said: “There has been a spike in demand from some antibiotics including those used to treat Strep A infection in children.
“Pharmacies are having to work very hard to obtain stocks of these antibiotics and some lines are temporarily unavailable.
“We have been advised by wholesalers that most lines will be replenished soon, but we cannot say exactly when this will be.
“As always, pharmacies will continue to work with local GPS to help people get the medicines they need as promptly as possible, which may require a change of prescription.”
