Dr Hilary Jones has explained the "red flag" symptoms of Strep A infection for parents to look out for during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. He stressed that an invasive form of the Strep A bacteria, which is believed to have now caused the deaths of eight children since September, is "a rare disease" but there are signs to keep in mind.
Illnesses caused by the Group A strep bacteria include skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat. There has been a big leap in the number of scarlet fever cases across the UK, with 851 cases reported from November 14 to 20 - compared to an average of 186 for the same period in previous years.
Strep A infections are usually mild and can be easily treated with antibiotics. But they can develop into a more serious invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) infection. Health officials have noticed an increase in iGAS cases this year, particularly in children under 10.
