Two children under 10 die from Strep A as total hits 26 fatalities from deadly infection
TWO Scottish children under 10 have died from Strep A as the total number of fatalities hits 26, Public Health Scotland (PHS) has said today.
It brings the total number of people who have died in Scotland since October to seven.
Both children were confirmed to be under 10-years-old, and passed away between October and December of this year.
Several children have died as a result of the bacteria in other parts of the UK, but this is the first time deaths have been reported in Scotland.
Illnesses caused by the Group A strep bacteria include skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
The death toll in the UK for children is now 26 since the season started mid September.
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Scotland’s Health Secretary Humza Yousaf tweeted: “Every death is a tragedy, particularly those of young children, my thoughts with families & loved ones affected.”
He added: “Thankfully most cases of Strep A present as mild illness & can be treated with antibiotics. Working with UK Govt to ensure adequate supplies.
“Where localised shortages of first line treatments occur there are alternative & effective antibiotics available.”
One known victim, little Hanna Roap, died within 24-hours of falling ill with invasive Strep A.
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The seven-year-old's condition had started with a mild cough.
Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Bucks, also died from the illness.
Jax Albert Jefferys’, who attended Morelands Primary School in Waterlooville, also died from the condition.
Stella-Lily McCorkindale fell severely ill at the end of November and and was treated in hospital before she tragically passed away from Strep A.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states that so far this season, there have been 126 invasive cases in children aged 1 to 4.
This compares to 194 cases in that age group across the whole year of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018.
There have been 88 cases in children aged 5 to 9 years compared to 117 across the whole year of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018.
The majority of invasive cases continue to be in those over 45 years-old.
PHS said that in the week ending December 25 there were 869 laboratory reports of Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a reduction from 1,079 the previous week.
This compares with between 300 and 480 reports per week during peaks observed in the period since 2016.
The PHS report said: “Although increases in GAS were reported in recent weeks in Scotland, iGAS infections levels for 2022 have been generally stable and similar to previous years.”
In the week ending December 25 there were 15 iGAS cases reported across all age groups, compared with 13 in the previous week.
This compares with between 12 and 18 cases per week during peaks observed in previous years.
Data from the beginning of October to December 25 2022 show that PHS has received reports of 20 iGAS cases in children under 10.
The surge in cases is putting a huge strain on NHS 111 and pharmacists, with shortages of penicillin and other antibiotics reported across the UK.
Last week, pharmacists in England were given new powers to prescribe an alternative to penicillin in order to treat Strep A as supplies of the drug dwindle.
Cases of the deadly bug are also circulating in high numbers in other European countries, including France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, according to the WHO.
The updated figures from Scotland today come as a new jab for the illness could be on the horizon.
Until now, experts have been unable to create a jab which can prevent the killer infection that is spreading across the country.
What are the symptoms of invasive group A Strep and scarlet fever you need to know
There are four key signs of Group Strep A to watch out for, according to the NHS. These are:
- A fever (meaning a high temperature above 38°C)
- Severe muscle aches
- Localised muscle tenderness
- Redness at the site of a wound
The invasive version of the disease happens when the bacteria break through the body's immune defences.
This can happen if you're already feeling unwell or have an immune system that’s weakened.
The NHS says that when it comes to scarlet fever, your child will most likely start off with cold-like symptoms.
The signs will include:
- high temperature
- sore throat
- swollen neck glands
- rash 12-48 hours after initial symptoms. This usually starts on the tummy and then spreads
- white coating on the tongue
- red cheeks
The infection can be treated with antibiotics - but there is currently a shortage with around six times more prescriptions handed out than normal for this time of year.
There are also fears the bug will become resistant to antibiotics, which would leave it incurable.
But researchers from Lund University in Sweden have found a special antibody, in the blood of people who recovered from the bug, which could be key to producing a vaccine.
Meanwhile, parents have been flooding NHS 111 phone lines in a panic about the Strep A outbreak in kids.
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There has been increase in demand for NHS 111 services with 721,301 calls last week – up from 706,129 the week before.
The rise in demand is understood to be partly driven by parents concerned about symptoms of Strep A, the NHS states.
