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Original poster

Worried about Strep A outbreak

347 replies

Beebz · 01/12/2022 20:51

It has now been reported that a second primary aged child has now tragically died from Strep A (iGAS). This is so shocking and how completely devastating for their families, I literally cannot even imagine the hell they are going through.

Is this something new or does this happen to children in this country every year? I don't remember hearing anything like this about strep/scarlet fever in the news before? How likely is it for primary aged children to become this ill from it? Is there anything we can do to protect our DC's from contracting it? This seems incredibly serious.

OP posts:
Passthecheeseboard · 01/12/2022 23:22

This sounds awful, a normal sore throat is bad enough.

How is it caught? Is it the same way you catch a cold by breathing in cough droplets? Or is it more through touching contaminated surfaces?… I assume alcohol hand gel might help avoid it if that’s the case?

Onnabugeisha · 01/12/2022 23:23

Passthecheeseboard · 01/12/2022 23:22

This sounds awful, a normal sore throat is bad enough.

How is it caught? Is it the same way you catch a cold by breathing in cough droplets? Or is it more through touching contaminated surfaces?… I assume alcohol hand gel might help avoid it if that’s the case?

Here’s the NICE page on transmission
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/scarlet-fever/background-information/transmission/

Lozzybear · 01/12/2022 23:30

@Mentallyillfrienhomless there are good GPs and bad GPs same as everything. I didn’t contact them but it’s a notifiable disease so the private GP had to report it to the relevant authorities so I presume the information made its way back to the NHS GP.

Passthecheeseboard · 02/12/2022 00:02

oh wow it sounds really contagious 😮

And I find GPs are always dismissive of sore throat symptoms, assuming it will go away on its own … even when you need antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis they are reluctant to actually treat their patients 🙄

I can imagine GPs being reluctant to treat their patients and actually prescribe antibiotics for strep infections is going to result in lots of unnecessary hospitalisations once the strep becomes more advanced…

BeethovenNinth · 02/12/2022 00:17

I try to make sure my DCs are as healthy as possible. Sleep; fresh air; exercise. I actually also give mine vitamin d, some cod liver oil and floradix if they look a bit peaky

Ozgirl75 · 02/12/2022 05:21

My son had impetigo which is also caused by Strep bacteria - it’s a little skin sore that doesn’t go away and then you get more of them. Can be nasty if not treated but his went away very quickly with antibiotics.
Some people seem to be more susceptible than others to strep infections. Our Dr said that my son should do an antibacterial wash for a few days (I forget the name of it now) to clear any residual bacteria living on his skin. Apparently it will live on you causing no drama but if there’s a little cut or another underlying infection it can cause issues. Cellulitis is another thing it causes.

JudyGemston · 02/12/2022 05:30

I’m American and I had step throat frequently as a child, probably every other year, and I still get it occasionally as an adult. My children have had too. If you have a sore throat you look for the telltale white spots and go in for a throat culture. If the culture shows strep you get a prescription for amoxicillin and within 24 hours it starts feeling better. I think it’s what people in the UK generically refer to as “tonsillitis”. As long as you finish your whole prescription it’s not a problem (in my experience). Millions upon millions of people get it every year. I’d prefer not to of course but it doesn’t keep me awake at night.

KangarooKenny · 02/12/2022 06:27

I work in schools and I’ve never heard of so many cases of Scarlet Fever before.
The most worrying thing is that I was told by one school that the affected children are allowed back in school after one day’s worth of antibiotics.

Original poster
Beebz · 02/12/2022 06:53

Passthecheeseboard · 02/12/2022 00:02

oh wow it sounds really contagious 😮

And I find GPs are always dismissive of sore throat symptoms, assuming it will go away on its own … even when you need antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis they are reluctant to actually treat their patients 🙄

I can imagine GPs being reluctant to treat their patients and actually prescribe antibiotics for strep infections is going to result in lots of unnecessary hospitalisations once the strep becomes more advanced…

I'm worried about this. My GP never likes to give out antibiotics, which I understand generally, but if the DC's show signs I'm concerned we'd get fobbed off.
Wish it was the Christmas holidays. It feels very much like covid did that first winter with it when they were back at school, just counting the days until I could have them at home and not be scared of them picking something nasty up every day.

This immediately feels more dangerous for children than covid was. Weird lack of publicity about it too compared with the hep outbreak a while back.

OP posts:
Bridgi · 02/12/2022 06:54

Approximately 5-15% of people carry streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) in their upper respiratory tracts without symptoms.
Viruses like colds and flu make the contents of your respiratory tract spread to other people when you cough and sneeze.
Neiserria meningitidis too (up to 25% of people are carriers).

This is how people get infected.

WaddleAway · 02/12/2022 06:57

KangarooKenny · 02/12/2022 06:27

I work in schools and I’ve never heard of so many cases of Scarlet Fever before.
The most worrying thing is that I was told by one school that the affected children are allowed back in school after one day’s worth of antibiotics.

They’re not contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics.

Bridgi · 02/12/2022 06:59

And the majority of streps are resistant to penicillin now. More of a surprise to find one that isn’t.

greenacrylicpaint · 02/12/2022 07:02

And I find GPs are always dismissive of sore throat symptoms, assuming it will go away on its own … even when you need antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis they are reluctant to actually treat their patients

it is correct that most sore throats resolve on their own. even bacterial infections.
but I agree that gp's can be (feel) very dismissive. and it doesn't help that it often is very difficult to see them again a day or so later if symptoms don't improve or get worse.

monstermunch26 · 02/12/2022 07:06

My daughter had scarlet fever just last week. She had a temp and vomited. Then the rash appeared and was itchy. She was prescribed antibiotics and she started recovering instantly. The rash started clearing immediately and after 2 days she was her old self except for the rash clearing. She just turned 6 on the weekend. As long as you act I think it's ok. Xx

Original poster
Beebz · 02/12/2022 07:09

monstermunch26 · 02/12/2022 07:06

My daughter had scarlet fever just last week. She had a temp and vomited. Then the rash appeared and was itchy. She was prescribed antibiotics and she started recovering instantly. The rash started clearing immediately and after 2 days she was her old self except for the rash clearing. She just turned 6 on the weekend. As long as you act I think it's ok. Xx

At what stage did you start the antibiotics @monstermunch26 ? When the rash appeared? I'm just trying to make a plan in my head should he DC's come down with it, it's the only way I can stay on top of my worry about it!

OP posts:
SilverGlassHare · 02/12/2022 07:11

My brother caught strep from his daughter in 2013 and died, so this is really worrying me at the moment. Not sure there’s anything I can do as a parent except keep a close eye on DC if they get a sore throat.

cyclamenqueen · 02/12/2022 07:14

JudyGemston · 02/12/2022 05:30

I’m American and I had step throat frequently as a child, probably every other year, and I still get it occasionally as an adult. My children have had too. If you have a sore throat you look for the telltale white spots and go in for a throat culture. If the culture shows strep you get a prescription for amoxicillin and within 24 hours it starts feeling better. I think it’s what people in the UK generically refer to as “tonsillitis”. As long as you finish your whole prescription it’s not a problem (in my experience). Millions upon millions of people get it every year. I’d prefer not to of course but it doesn’t keep me awake at night.

That’s a Strep B infection. This thread is about Strep A also known as Scarlet fever .

NightTerrors · 02/12/2022 07:17

My daughter caught scarlet fever about 5 years ago, antibiotics worked quite quickly but it was horrific at the time. There are loads of kids off school and nursery at the moment with tonsilitis - but they don't swab for tonsilitis (or at least never have when I or my children have had it) and my youngest was in hospital with it recently. I think tonsilitis is a blanket term for inflamed, pussy tonsils so Strep A could be the bacteria causing it. I do understand antibiotic resistance but they also won't remove tonsils now either!

Battlecat98 · 02/12/2022 07:22

My son had a strep A throat infection that we were unaware of until he developed a complication of it, he had something called Sydenham's chorea which affected his speech and mobility. He was 11 at the time, he was lucky as we caught it early, his symptoms took around 3 months to disappear. We now have to get a throat swab if he develops a sore throat and start antibiotics.

Awful to see the deaths of those children just devastating.

PhillyJoe · 02/12/2022 07:28

cyclamenqueen · 02/12/2022 07:14

That’s a Strep B infection. This thread is about Strep A also known as Scarlet fever .

Show quote history

No. Strep throat is a Strep A infection. There is a good explanation upthread of the different ways Strep A can infect a person.

Thelovelyflower · 02/12/2022 07:31

There was a child with invasive strep in my child's class a few years ago. They were hospitalised (intensive care I think) but made a full recovery.

We were sent letters warning us of the outbreak and telling us to get antibiotics immediately if we had sore throats. Several people (my daughter and I included) did get sore throats and were given antibiotics but no one else became really unwell.

bloodyplanes · 02/12/2022 07:32

My son nearly died from a strep A infection when he was a toddler! He had to stay in isolation in hdu for over a week on IV antibiotics among other meds! He was literally o little bit poorly in the morning and seriously ill by tea time!

Workinghardeveryday · 02/12/2022 07:34

This is such a worry. Sounds worse than covid!

WeWereInParis · 02/12/2022 07:37

KangarooKenny · 02/12/2022 06:27

I work in schools and I’ve never heard of so many cases of Scarlet Fever before.
The most worrying thing is that I was told by one school that the affected children are allowed back in school after one day’s worth of antibiotics.

That's correct - once you're over 24 hours into your antibiotics you're no longer contagious.

The fact its contagious for days before symptoms show will cause the spread.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/

HollyJollyNovember · 02/12/2022 07:43

I work on a children's icu / hdu and we are swamped at the moment. Scarlet fever, strep, RSV, flu Covid in some cases. Plus all the 'normal' surgery recovery, it's hell.

I'm not scare mongering but if your child has been prescribed antibiotics for an infection please please please do everything in your power as their parent to make them take their medication. It's so important. The wards have had so many kids admitted because they rated antibiotics for strep and then they couldn't keep it up, they looked better so parents didn't keep giving them and now it's so much worse.

If your child doesn't like the taste of a certain medication ask your dr if there is anything else they can prescribe or a suppository.