Alert: another child has died, there are already nine, and the ghost of streptococcus is back

A primary school student has become the ninth child in the UK to die of streptococcus aas reported by major British media on Tuesday.

It concerns Stella Lily McCorkindalefrom Belfast, Northern Ireland, a 5-year-old girl who died yesterday of the bacterial infection, which has spread to schools across the country.

The elementary school student Black Mountain she fell seriously ill last week and was being treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, according to the BBC.

It was admitted that the girl had been diagnosed with a serious form of bacterial infection.

Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to the families of boys and girls from grade P1 to P3 of primary school.

Students had to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventive course of antibiotics.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there had been an increase in cases of invasive group A strep this year, particularly in children under 10, and he asked fathers and mothers to be attentive

“Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a common bacterium. Many of us we take it down the throat and on the skin, and does not always cause disease. However, it causes a variety of infections, some mild and some more serious,” the agency explained on its official website.

It is responsible for infections like tonsillitis, pharyngitis, scarlet feverimpetigo and cellulitis among others.

It spreads in close contact with an infected person e can be transmitted through coughingsneezing or a wound and cause various symptoms such as sore throat, fever, chills and body aches.

The UKHSA has reported that the most serious GAS-related infections are those caused by invasive group A strepknown as iGAS, which occur when bacteria enter parts of the body where they are not normally found, such as the lungs or bloodstream, but in rare cases an iGAS infection can be fatal.

He clarified that although infections are still rare, they have occurred this year an increase in cases especially in children under the age of 10.

The agency is investigating the increase in group A strep infections of the lower respiratory tract in children in recent weeks.

However, it has been proven that currently there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating and most likely the increase is due to a large number of circulating bacteria.

“It is not possible to say for sure what is causing higher than usual rates of these infections a combination of factorswhich include a greater social mix than in previous years, as well as increases in other respiratory viruses,” the health agency’s report detailed.

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What is strep throat?

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Very common in winter, the bacterium strep it is transmitted from person to person and is a major cause of throat infections in children, for example angina and pharyngitis . Most of these types of infections are treated with antibiotics and the patient is cured without sequelae.

With the scientific name of pyogenic strep, depending on the area where the infection is located, streptococcus bacteria can also generate: scarlet fever, impetigo, meningitis, otitis, throat phlegmon, bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), osteomyelitis (bone infection), necrotizing fasciitis (tissue of death) and, in rare cases, a type of infection called invasive. In this extreme case, the danger is that sepsis occurs, i.e. an uncontrolled inflammatory reaction in the body which can lead to shock and death. These cases are rare and isolated, but they do exist. That’s why it’s important detect early symptoms.

Left untreated, strep infections can lead to complications. For instance, an ear infection It can spread to the sinuses, causing sinusitis, or to the mastoid bone (the prominent bone behind the ear), causing mastoiditis.

Other changes concern the distances. For example, some people will develop kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis) or rheumatic fever. But it is reassuring to note that, in general, these are common diseases, easy to diagnose and effective treatment.

Streptococcus has been known for more than 200 years, and while there is no vaccine to prevent the spread of this bacterium, it is easily treated. It is detected via a throat swab (which is done with a swab with which a saliva sample is taken). The first result is after a while, but the culture can take up to 3 days. It should be noted that, although the rapid test was “negative”, it will be necessary to wait for the result of the culture to completely exclude the infection.

It is transmitted by direct contact with nasal secretions. or throat of infected people, or by contact with wounds or ulcers on infected skin. Ventilating the rooms and washing your hands properly, especially before preparing food and after coughing or sneezing (always covering your mouth with your arm) is the best way to prevent contagion. Drinking from the same bottle, kissing or using the same cutlery are possible forms of contagion.

strep symptoms

When strep throat causes a throat infection (sore throat), symptoms often come on suddenly and can include sore throat -sometimes with shivering- fever , headache, nausea, vomiting and general malaise. The throat is deep red and the tonsils are swollen, with or without patches of pus. The knots are enlarged and tender to the touch. However, children under 3 may have a runny nose as their only symptom. StIf the person with a sore throat also has red eyes, nasal congestion, diarrhea, or hoarseness, the cause is likely a viral infection, not strep throat.

Other symptoms for which it is advisable to consult a doctor are:

– Intense muscle pain.

– He retched.

– Refusal of food.

– Respiratory difficulties.

-Very marked decay.

-Changes in skin color (pale or purple, or with a red rash or dots).

– Tendency to sleep and irritability.

Treatment for strep

Treatment is generally with penicillin (antibiotics) and the patient ceases to be infectious 24 hours after starting the drug. But, as said before, everything is derived from the area and the type of infection in question. It is always essential to respect the times and doses indicated by the doctor, to ensure that the infection is eradicated. Unlike other rash diseases (such as chicken pox), scarlet fever or a sore throat can recur many times during a lifetime.

It is important to consult at the first warning signs, not to self-medicate and, in the case of children, to have up-to-date vaccinations and not to take them to school to avoid contagion.