Parents are being warned to be on the lookout for symptoms after a child died due to an outbreak of bacteria.
A six-year-old pupil has died and another is being cared for in hospital after an outbreak of an invasive bacteria at a primary school in Surrey. The death was confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency South East's health protection consultant Dr Claire Winslade.
The Year One Ashford Church of England School pupil caught the invasive Group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection, it was said in an email to parents. They warned: "As a precautionary measure, we have recommended antibiotics to pupils and staff in the same year groups as the individuals affected. We have provided advice to the school to help prevent further cases and will continue to monitor the situation."
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Group A streptococcus (or Strep A) is known to cause scarlet fever, throat infections and, in very rare cases, invasive disease. This can occur when bacteria get into parts of the body where bacteria are not usually found, such as the blood, muscle or the lungs.
It can happen if the bacteria gets past a person's defences, such as through an open wound or when a person's immune system is depleted. Most people who come into contact with the bacteria remain well and symptom-free, but there are some symptoms to be on the lookout for.
Symptoms to look out for
The symptoms of group A streptococcal infection depend on where the infection develops in the body. Listed below are symptoms and signs of different types of group A streptococcal infection:
- Strep throat symptoms may include a sore throat and tonsils, pain when swallowing, fever, muscle aches and pains, and tiredness.
- Scarlet fever symptoms include a very red, sore throat, swollen glands and fever. Around 12 to 48 hours after infection, red blotches can appear on the skin, usually on the face, neck, underarms or groin. Red bumps can also form on the tongue, sometimes called a ‘strawberry tongue’.
- Impetigo causes sores on the skin that tend to form blisters. These blisters can burst and leave a moist area with a yellow brown crust at the edge.
- Cellulitis involves an area of skin becoming red and inflamed, painful and swollen, while the skin will often feel tight and warmer to the touch than the surrounding skin.
- Necrotising fasciitis is a serious skin infection that can cause deep, painful skin sores as well as fever, diarrhoea or vomiting, septic shock and organ failure.
Those with the above symptoms should call 111 immediately. The infection can spread through the body and can become serious if not promptly treated with antibiotics.
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