Warning as six children die of strep A

Parents across the UK are being urged to look out for symptoms of

strep A infection in their children, after health officials revealed a rise in cases had led to the deaths of six youngsters.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a rare alert last night amid a rise in cases across the country, telling parents to seek medical help “as soon as possible” if they detect signs in their

children, in order to stop the infection becoming serious.

Symptoms include a sore throat, fever and minor skin infections. In most cases, people can be treated with antibiotics and make a full recovery. In rare cases, strep A can become a severe illness, and anyone with high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should seek urgent medical help.

A typical winter season sees one or two children under the age of 10 die as a result of strep A. This season, five children in England and one in Wales have so far lost their lives.

Public health officials told the Guardian there was currently no evidence that a new strain was circulating. The rise in cases and deaths is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and increased social mixing, they said.

Strep A can cause a range of different health issues, including the skin infection impetigo, strep throat and scarlet fever. While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, the bacteria can also cause a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease.

Last night UKHSA said there have been a recent significant rise in scarlet fever cases. There were 851 cases reported in the week of 14-20 November, compared with an average of 186 for the same timeframe in previous years.

There have also been 2.3 cases of iGAS per 100,000 children aged one to four this year in England, compared with an average of 0.5 in the pre-pandemic seasons (2017 to 2019), UKHSA said.

There have been 1.1 cases per 100,000 children aged five to nine compared with the pre-pandemic average of 0.3 (2017 to 2019).

During the last high season for strep A infection, in 2017-18, there were four deaths in children under 10 in England at this point of the season. This year that figure is five.

“We are seeing a higher number of cases of group A strep this year than usual,” Dr Colin Brown, the deputy director of UKHSA, said in a statement. “The bacteria usually cause 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.”

UKHSA said investigations were also under way following reports of an increase in lower respiratory tract strep A infections in children over the past few weeks, which have caused severe illness.

Earlier yesterday, UKHSA confirmed that a child who attended St John’s primary school in Ealing, west London, had died from strep A, while it also emerged that the parents of a four-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire said he has died from it too.

Shabana Kousar, the mother of Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, who attended the Oakridge school and nursery in High Wycombe, told the Bucks Free Press: “The loss is great and nothing will replace that.”

Hanna Roap, aged seven, who attended Victoria primary school in Penarth, four miles south of Cardiff, also died from the infection. A six-year-old died last week after an outbreak of the same infection at a school in Surrey.

Last night, UKHSA revealed a fifth child in England had died since September, bringing the total known deaths in England and Wales to six. Data from Scotland and Northern Ireland was not immediately available.

Parents are being told to contact NHS 111 or their GP if their child is getting worse, is 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, blue colour to a child’s skin, tongue or lips, or if a child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.