Strep A: 15 babies have died in UK in recent weeks. Will follow the outbreak of the epidemic in the United States?

wCap started out as a common bacterial infection that eventually killed 15 children in the UK who had been infected with Strep A.

Health authorities have issued dire warning For parents in the UK, infant deaths from infections continue to rise. The latest victim, a five-year-old Irish girl who fell seriously ill last week, died on Monday of complications from strep throat.

Although pediatric patients typically experience mild symptoms such as fever, swollen tonsils and lymph nodes, complications can arise when the infection enters the bloodstream, leading to a potentially fatal condition called invasive group A strep (iGAS).

In the US, iGAS cases are declining during the pandemic, says CDC independent On Wednesday, doctors in the United States notified the agency of a possible recent increase, which is being actively monitored.

Dr. Marc Heckar, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist and Associate Professor, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University of Buffalo, Tell independent Whether the US will experience an outbreak similar to the recent outbreak in the UK is hard to know.

Before the outbreak in 2019, 7 children under the age of 17 died of complications from strep A for every 100,000 people in the control area, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the time of the last report, there was 1 death for every 100,000 residents in the controlled areas in 2020.

The CDC only tracks iGA infections, not noninvasive strep A infections. In the most recent report, only 10 countries reported iGAS data.

“The mitigating measures used during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. closing schools and workplaces, wearing masks) helped limit the spread of many viruses and bacteria,” he said. said a spokesman.

“Now that these bacteria are circulating again, we may be returning to the typical iGAS infection pattern, including a seasonal increase in the winter months.

What is strep A infection?

Group A strep infection is a common bacterial infection, mostly seen in children.

In rarer and more severe cases, the infection can cause a pink rash (scarlet fever), bacterial dermatitis (impetigo), dead tissue (fascisitis), streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses.

However, most group A strep infections cause mild flu-like symptoms.

“There are many strains of Group A Streptococcus and there have been isolated outbreaks in the UK in the past (2015 and 2018),” said Dr Hekar. “…with the pre-emergency surge in UK cases, there appears to be no impact on US cases, so [whether there will be one now] It’s hard to say. ”

Certain strains of infection can cause a “sandpaper rash,” which often makes children sicker and is known as “scarlet fever,” Dr. Hekar said.

This usually happens when [throat infections or] However, cases of pharyngitis can [happen with] The same goes for herpes infections. This appears to be the model currently reported in the UK.

Children with immunodeficiency are more likely to be infected with group A strep, he added.

“Some children with poorly functioning spleens or other forms of immunosuppression have an increased risk of sepsis, toxic shock, and necrotizing fasciitis (group A carnivore group),” said Dr. Hekar.

Doctors have warned the mother of 2-year-old Tayden, who was diagnosed with aplastic anemia earlier this year, that her daughter could delay her transplant after developing strep A last week.

“She was exhausted the day before with a fever,” said Heather, who lives in Utah. independent.

Taiden’s symptoms disappeared within 48 hours of taking the antibiotic. You should recover from the transplant surgery.

Will infection rates rise after the pandemic?

A CDC spokesman said independent More data collection is needed to better understand recent Strep A trends in the United States.

“The recent increase in respiratory viruses, particularly influenza, may lead to a potential increase in iGAS infection. Concomitant or previous viral infections, such as influenza, and skin diseases, such as chickenpox, may increase the risk of iGAS infection,” the spokesperson said. he said.

Dr Heka added that wearing a mask doesn’t appear to reduce infections.

“Masks are useful for treating respiratory viruses like flu and Covid, but also other organisms that can linger on surfaces [such as Strep A] Mask use was not affected to the same extent. “[US] From the data available for 2020 (first year of the pandemic), group A invasive infections and mortality appear to be stable. “

The CDC estimates that there have been 14,000 to 25,000 cases of iGAS over the past five years, with 1,500 to 2,300 deaths over the same period.

What symptoms should parents be aware of?

According to the CDC, most children infected with group A strep develop symptoms such as painful swallowing, fever, red and swollen tonsils (sometimes with white spots or streaks of pus), and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.

says Dr. Heka independent The sore throat and fever should go away within a few days. Parents are advised to contact their doctor again if symptoms persist.

If your child is diagnosed [Strep A] It seems to get better, but then gets worse, talk to your doctor. “It could trigger one of these rarer, more serious complications.”

She stressed that while most cases aren’t dangerous for babies, complications can be fatal if the infection reaches the bloodstream (bacteremia), lungs (pneumonia), or brain (meningitis).

How are children infected?

Crowded places like schools and daycare centers increase the risk of strep A infection.

The bacterium is highly contagious and can be spread through respiratory droplets produced when talking, coughing or sneezing, or by direct contact when sores appear on a patient’s skin, according to the CDC.

In rare cases, it can also spread through food if it’s not delivered properly.

“As social animals, we are constantly bombarded with bacteria and viruses that our immune systems largely defend against,” said Dr. Hekar. independent.

“…more exposure [a person] The more likely they are infected. However, there are many benefits to peer interaction and socializing. ”

What should you do if you suspect your child has group A strep?

Strep A infection can be diagnosed with a rapid test that includes a throat swab.

Doctors also do throat cultures on patients. This method, although it takes 1 to 2 days, is more effective than a quick test.

What is the treatment for strep A?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent strep A infection.

Antibiotics, which reduce symptoms and prevent complications, are the most common form of treatment. Once antibiotics are prescribed, the patient should start feeling better within 48 hours.