The streptococcus a he is an “old acquaintance” of the doctors. It is a bacterium that causes throat infectionssuch as angina, or leather madelike impetigo. But now she has scared all the parents of the serious cases – even fatal ones – that have leapt to the press. Faced with this situation, pediatricians recommend not to be alarmed, but rather to vaccinate your children against the flu or chickenpox, which are usually past infections that weaken the body, causing streptococcus A to attack it severely ( invasively).
The warning in this regard was given by United Kingdom on 2 December. Four days later, the Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP) and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) did the same before “an unusually high number of severe cases, which might suggest we are also experiencing an increase in incidence.”
The scientific secretary of the SEIP, letizia martinez, clarifies: “Parents need not be alarmed. No need to scare the population. There is nothing new; strep has always existed and there have always been severe cases. It’s not like Covid, which was new”. But then why is there – according to the AEP and the SEIP– “a number that seems unusually high in severe cases”? The assumption is that it is due to increase in viral infections after the decline of the Covid.
Serious cases for Streptococcus pyogenes -or group A- are detected in children with a recent previous viral infection, such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or chicken pox. These viral illnesses leave the immune system “untouched” and in some cases an invasive (severe) strep A infection occurs. That is, the bacteria is not in the throat or skin, but in the blood. In the most serious cases, a toxin is generated that causes a toxic shock that can cause death.
But Martinez makes that clear serious images are very few. Furthermore, he insists on the importance of vaccination against viruses such as the flu – which SASha has authorized for the first time this year for children aged between six and 59 months – or chickenpox, which can leave the body of child in most frail condition against strep A. RSV can also make you weak, but there is no vaccine for it. Because if they are immunized against these pathologies, the risk of superinfection is reduced (second infection that occurs after a previous one).
The hypothesis of specialists is that the increase in severe cases of strep A that “appear” to be occurring is a consequence of increased flu and bronchiolitis now that the coronavirus is under control. “IT IS how to get more tenths of the lotterythere are more chances that he will touch you ”, exemplifies the specialist in Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
The SEIP secretary gives three tips to parents. Firstlet them not be alarmed because there are very few serious cases. According tovaccinating their children against viral diseases that can leave them vulnerable to strep A. Third, to be careful if the little ones have had a recent bronchiolitis, flu or chicken pox and instead of getting better, they get worse. If there is high fever, fatigue or decay, they should see a doctor immediately.
Other questions about this issue are how likely it is to increase severe cases of strep A, the number of which “seems unusually high”. Inside United Kingdominvasive (severe) streptococcus A infection It is a notifiable disease. Not in Spain. Therefore, there is no official data confirming the suspicion of the increase. The SEIP has been active since 2019 a surveillance network for cases of invasive (severe) Streptococcus A infection. It is this system that is analyzing the current situation nationwide to draw conclusions.
Professionals, on “maximum alert”
The Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP) and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP extension) issued an alert on December 6. In it, it is recommended to “maintain vigilance and suspicion in the face of the possibility of serious cases of infection with Streptococcus pyogenes [A]”.
After a series of technical advice on treatments, they also recommend for children with this confirmed infection, stay at home without going to schoolup to taking at least 24 hours with adequate antibiotic treatment in order to avoid the spread and increase of cases.
In addition, both organizations are calling for the promotion of flu vaccination at all ages, as long as there are no contraindicationsespecially among children from six months to five years, following the indications of the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP). According to the specialists consulted, data from the United Kingdom indicate that the most serious cases of streptococcus A infection are being recorded among children aged 0 to 4 years and also in the elderly.
