Several children in the UK have tragically lost their lives after contracting strep A in the UK in the past few days. One of these children has been named as Hanna Roap, a seven-year-old pupil at Victoria Primary School in Penarth.
Strep A goes by several names. It's usually known as group A streptococcus bacteria, but this can be abbreviated to GAS and is also known as streptococcus pyogenes.
You'll often hear about scarlet fever in connection with strep A. Scarlet fever is one of the diseases that can be caused by strep A bacteria, but the bacteria can be responsible for other diseases.
READ MORE: Scarlet fever: What are the symptoms, how infectious is it, and how to treat it
We've put together a guide on everything you need to know about strep A, based on the advice from Public Health Wales and medical experts:
What are strep A bacteria?
Group A streptococcus bacteria are commonly found on the skin or in the throat. They don't cause any problems here, but under some circumstances they can cause disease.
Does strep A cause scarlet fever?
Strep A bacteria can cause scarlet fever, which is usually not dangerous but can become a problem if left untreated. Scarlet fever has a number of symptoms including a widespread pink-red rash, high temperature, and a red, swollen tongue.
It can also cause complications including pneumonia and meningitis, and could lead to serious and life-threatening issues in very rare cases.
You can read our guide on scarlet fever, including what to do if you or your child catches it and the importance of taking antibiotics, here.
What other diseases can strep A cause?
According to Public Health Wales, strep A can cause other diseases as well as scarlet fever. Most commonly, this takes the form of a mild sore throat known as "strep throat" and skin or soft tissue infections like impetigo and cellulitis.
There are some more rare complications strep A can cause. These include acute rheumatic fever and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (heart and kidney diseases caused by an immune reaction to the bacteria).
Strep A can cause serious invasive infections too - known as iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) infections. Public Health Wales is currently working with Victoria Primary School to inform parents about iGAS.
What are the symptoms of iGAS infection?
The types of iGAS infection include bacteraemia (a bloodstream infection), necrotising fasciitis (a severe infection involving the death of areas of soft tissue) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which can lead to low blood pressure and multi-organ failure.
The common symptoms of iGAS infection are:
- Fever (a high temperature above 38°C)
- Sore throat or tonsillitis
- Severe muscle aches
- Localised muscle tenderness
- Redness at the site of a wound.
Who is most vulnerable to strep A infection?
iGAS infections are most common in the elderly and the very young. People who have an underlying risk factor like alcoholism, immunosuppression, cancer, or use of injecting drugs, are also more vulnerable to it.
How dangerous is strep A infection?
The danger posed by strep A infection varies massively depending on the type of infection and, as above, the person who is infected.
Scarlet fever, for example, often isn't dangerous and most cases cause no complications. However, you should always contact your GP if you think you have scarlet fever, if you're ill after recovering from it, or if you have symptoms after contact with someone who has had it.
On the other hand, approximately 15 - 25% of people diagnosed with an invasive GAS infection, which are much more rare, will die from the infection.
Should you call 999 if you think you have strep A?
Andy Swinburn, director of paramedicine at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “The winter season often sees a rise in illnesses which this year appears to include Strep A, Scarlet Fever, and other infections in children. We remind the public to only call 999 in the event of an emergency, and that they should call 111 for advice on non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.”
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