An investigation is underway into cases of Strep A after six school children are confirmed to have died from the infection in recent months.
Group A Strep are bacteria commonly found in the throat and on the skin, and usually cause mild infections that can be cleared up with a course of antibiotics. But in "very rare" circumstances, the bacteria can cause a serious and potentially deadly illness known as invasive Group A Strep if they get into the bloodstream.
The UKHSA has confirmed that reports of an increase in severe illnesses caused by lower respiratory tract Group A Strep infections in children over the past few weeks are now being investigated. But the Health Security Agency added that there is currently no evidence that a new strain is circulating, and that the rise in cases is most likely due to high amounts of social mixing and circulating bacteria with children in school for autumn term.
READ MORE: Strep A signs parents should look out for as six UK primary school children die from infection
Five children under 10 have died of Strep A in England since September, while a separate case in Wales takes the known UK total to six. Health officials confirmed earlier that a child from St John’s School in Ealing, West London, had died from Strep A, while the parents of a four-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire also confirmed he had died from the infection.
It comes after a pupil from Victoria primary school in Penarth, four miles south of Cardiff, also died. Last week, a six-year-old died after an outbreak of the same infection at a school in Surrey.
Group A Strep bacteria can cause a range of both minor and deadly infections, from the skin infection Impetigo to Scarlet Fever and Strep throat. Although the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, the bacteria can sometimes cause a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
According to UKHSA data, there were 2.3 cases of invasive disease per 100,000 children aged one to four this year in England, compared with an average of 0.5 in the pre-pandemic seasons of 2017 to 2019. There have also been 1.1 cases per 100,000 children aged five to nine, compared with the pre-pandemic average of 0.3.
The last time that such an intensive period of Strep A infection was seen in England was in 2017/18, when there were four deaths within the same time frame. Cases of Scarlet Fever have also risen sharply in recent weeks, with 851 cases reported in the week November 14 to 20 compared to an average of 186 for the same timeframe in previous years.
Dr Colin Brown, deputy director of 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 Group A strep (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 Brown added.
Parents have been advised to contact NHS 111 or their GP if their child is getting worse, is feeding or eating much less than normal, or has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration. They should also seek help if their 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.
Other red flags are if the child is very tired or irritable. Parents should call 999 or go to A&E if a child is having difficulty breathing, such as grunting noises or tummy sucking in under the ribs, pauses in breathing, blue colour to a child’s skin, tongue or lips, or if a child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.
READ NEXT:
-
Warning over vaccine fatigue as flu season will be 'worse than usual'
-
Seven heart attack symptoms which could occur a month prior to devastating emergency
-
A&E attendance at Royal Victoria Infirmary up almost 20% compared to before Covid-19
-
Pain during sex and swollen stomach can be red flags of deadly cancer
