Strep A: What is Streptococcus and what symptoms should you look for?

2 December 2022, 13:44

Parents have been warned to look out for signs of Strep A disease
Parents have been warned to look out for signs of Strep A disease. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Four children have died after becoming ill with Strep A – with parents asked to look out for any signs of the bacterial infection.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The bug, which can cause scarlet fever, has been spreading among children.

It's usually very mild and severe cases are not common.

Here's what Strep A is, the symptoms to look out for and how it's treated.

What is Strep A?

Group A Streptococcus is a form of bacteria sometimes found in a person's throat or on their skin, according to the NHS.

It often causes a mild illness like a sore throat or a skin infection, but it can become severe and even life threatening, a condition medics call invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.

How do you catch Strep A?

It moves between person to person through close contact, like touching skin and kissing.

The infection usually moves between people harmlessly, and developing the disease by catching it from a relative or person you live with is rare.

Read more: Fourth child dies from Strep A bug as devastated parents pay tribute to 'caring' little boy

The NHS recommends thorough hand washing to fight the chances of being infected.

What are the signs of being infected with Strep A?

A high fever, severe muscle aches, localised muscle tenderness, redness at the site of a wound, vomiting and diarrhoea are all symptoms.

It can cause throat infection, scarlet fever or skin infections like cellulitis.

Who is at risk?

The NHS says anyone who has come into close contact with a person infected with the disease is at an increased risk.

Similarly, anyone aged over 65, diabetics, people with heart disease or cancer, patients who recently had chickenpox and those with HIV are also at increase risk.

Read more: Urgent warning to parents after child, 6, dies and second in hospital after rare bacterial outbreak at primary school

People who use some types of steroid and intravenous drugs are also at a higher risk.

What should you do if you get Strep A disease – and how is it treated?

Speak to your GP if you think you have signs of the disease.

You should let them know if you've been in contact with someone who has had Group A recently.

If you are infected, you'll be treated with antibiotics.

In severe cases, surgery may be needed.

Read more: Two more confirmed cases of deadly bacterial infection that killed girl, 6, found in nearby school

A spokesman for the UK Health Security Agency said: "As part of our public health response to last week's tragic news, we issued some general information about the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever, which is not uncommon, to schools in the vicinity of Ashford Primary.

"A number of other illnesses typically circulate at this time of year and parents, school and nursery staff are advised to be aware of the symptoms, to keep up with vaccinations and to seek advice from NHS 111 if they have concerns."

Are there worries about strains of Strep A?

Australian researchers have raised fears about a new "superbug" strain of Strep A which cannot be detected and is immune to some antibiotics.

“This new form of resistance is undetectable under conditions routinely used in pathology laboratories, making it very hard for clinicians to prescribe antibiotics that will effectively treat the infection, potentially leading to very poor outcomes and even premature death," Dr Timothy Barnett, head of the Strep A Pathogenesis and Diagnostics team at Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, warned this week.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

Emergency measures in Amsterdam after Israeli football fans targeted by pro-Palestine 'hit-and-run attacks'

Boris Johnson has claimed that Donald Trump would "certainly" do a trade deal with the UK

Trump will 'certainly' do a UK trade deal, Boris Johnson claims - as Farage urges Starmer to 'roll out the red carpet'

Russian TV aired nude photos of Melania Trump

Russian state TV airs nude photos of Melania Trump as presenters congratulate her husband on election victory

Prince Andrew is said to have found his own money to stay in the Royal Lodge

Prince Andrew 'finds money to stay in Royal Lodge' after being cut off by Charles when King's 'patience ran out'

Chris Hall, 48, was killed after the limb of a tree fell on him in a park in Chesire

Council fined £500,000 for 'wholly avoidable' death after tree branch fell and killed man walking dog in park

Whitworth Hall at the University of Manchester. Oxford Road, Manchester, England, United Kingdom.

Man arrested after bust of Israeli leader stolen from the University of Manchester and defaced

The mother of 13-year-old Palestinian Abdel Rahman Abdullah, who was shot dead by the Israeli army during clashes at a refugee camp near Bethlehem

Nearly 70% of Gaza dead are women and children, UN reports

m

Prince Harry and Meghan make first joint appearance in months in video about violence against children online

One of the headstones

Mourning families find 'disgusting' health and safety stickers put by local councils on gravestones

Mohamed Al Fayed

Met Police refer themselves to watchdog over handling of sex assault claims against Mohamed Al Fayed

Fred Trump III said his uncle Donald had said he should let his disabled son die

Donald Trump's estranged nephew claims president-elect said he should 'let his disabled son die'

Terry Moore

'Britain's Tiger King' rushed to hospital after being mauled by his own big cat

Donald Trump.

Iranian assassination attempt against Donald Trump thwarted by FBI

UK fire engine (file)

Two dead as blaze rips through Coventry home in early hours of morning

Amanj Hasan Zada has been jailed for 17 years

Iranian man dubbed 'the best smuggler' jailed for 17 years after arranging small boat crossings

Watch the moment this phone snatcher was caught by police in Oxford Circus

WATCH: Dramatic moment undercover police officers arrest phone snatcher in Oxford Circus