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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:
Ohcrapp · 02/12/2022 12:51

@sunnyminds76 sorry until the week not weekend.

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 12:51

Is there a way of knowing when cases are reported in your county?
I know it's one that has to be reported to public health England but I don't know if the public are privy to that info.
My sons school tell us if its in school but I'm wondering on a county level.

Crunchymum · 02/12/2022 12:55

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63835595

It's made the BBC at least (although they seem to be reporting 3 deaths)

Chickydoo · 02/12/2022 12:58

My teenage DD is ill today. V high temp 40+ has been given antibiotics by practice nurse first thing this morning. Throat is v sore & chest painful. Many friends in year group have the same symptoms.
It is worrying

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 13:00

Chickydoo · 02/12/2022 12:58

My teenage DD is ill today. V high temp 40+ has been given antibiotics by practice nurse first thing this morning. Throat is v sore & chest painful. Many friends in year group have the same symptoms.
It is worrying

What county are you?
I hope she's feeling better soon Flowers

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 13:01

If they don't swab routinely in the UK then it's going to be hard to keep track of.

sunnyminds76 · 02/12/2022 13:01

Crunchymum · 02/12/2022 12:55

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63835595

It's made the BBC at least (although they seem to be reporting 3 deaths)

Should have clarified, this the boy I referred to was at a secondary school (Y8) so not primary, not the case reported on Sky/BBC.

My DD not in the same year but understand the boy was playing rugby on the Saturday so it was unexpected

Crunchymum · 02/12/2022 13:01

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

Unlike us parents who send their kids down the mines?

What are are you on about?

RafaistheKingofClay · 02/12/2022 13:01

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 12:51

Is there a way of knowing when cases are reported in your county?
I know it's one that has to be reported to public health England but I don't know if the public are privy to that info.
My sons school tell us if its in school but I'm wondering on a county level.

Our GP surgery usually put it on social media and it may be on local news if local public health bodies think there is an outbreak.

TheMildManneredMilitant · 02/12/2022 13:15

We've had scarlet fever in the school recently (north east) but no official communication around it. Mine got it, had ABs straight away, had a few hours when he was quite poorly but then picked up very quickly. A few years ago DC had impetigo and DH and I got tonsillitis at same time which assumed was strep.

I guess it's difficult to tell at the moment whether this is normal (albeit devastating for those involved) or if there's something else going on. The media really doesn't help either, that Mail story is designed to push all the right buttons (and generate clicks!).

Chickydoo · 02/12/2022 13:17

@ofwarren
London

Original poster
Beebz · 02/12/2022 13:22

I just read a story saying the little girl who died died within 24 hours of becoming unwell. How can that be true? That sounds incredibly fast, I thought strep took much longer to make you unwell.

OP posts:
ofwarren · 02/12/2022 13:24

Beebz · 02/12/2022 13:22

I just read a story saying the little girl who died died within 24 hours of becoming unwell. How can that be true? That sounds incredibly fast, I thought strep took much longer to make you unwell.

So did I
How can that be??

GlorifiedChair · 02/12/2022 13:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

AllPlayedOut · 02/12/2022 13:34

I don't know what happened with these children but Strep A can lead to sepsis which can kill incredibly fast as demonstrated by this terrible story. www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/cheerleader-dies-sepsis-strep

Original poster
Beebz · 02/12/2022 13:35

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

And now there's been four in two weeks??

OP posts:
MotherOfPuffling · 02/12/2022 13:36

There’s a horrible bug going round DD’s school at the moment and I’m pretty sure it’s strep throat, but no one’s been able to see a doctor to confirm. Awful cough, pain like razor blades when swallowing, high fever. Has taken DD weeks to recover, and I still haven’t. Finally managed to get antibiotics prescribed over the phone, and the doctor said they are overwhelmed with people with the same symptoms.

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 13:36

I'm feeling more and more worried about this...

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 13:37

What county @motherofpuffling ?

Quartz2208 · 02/12/2022 13:42

DS had it years ago and went downhill fast. Sat evening temperature that couldnt get down. By Sunday lunchtime could barely keep him awake and unresponsive. Got an OOH appt at which a non blanching rash rushed through to A&E and put on IV drip of heavy duty antibiotics. Which worked wonders and was much more alert. But he got the IV about 20 hours after falling ill and they worked

Original poster
Beebz · 02/12/2022 14:08

How long will these sorts of outbreaks normally last? I did read somewhere that this is out of season for strep too, and that is usually like chickenpox in that it happens more in the Spring. No idea if that's true or not though. I'm more worried about the DC's being in school now than I was before the Covid lockdown.

OP posts:
Garysmum · 02/12/2022 14:09

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 13:24

So did I
How can that be??

Show quote history

I caught Strep A. I was fine in the morning when I woke up. At lunchtime I had a very high fever and was vomiting a lot. I was in pain and felt uncomfortable. I was struggling to breathe by 4pm.
Later on I just wanted to sleep.
I had sepsis and was incredibly ill - had I been at home I would have died according to the hospital. (I was pregnant and I think that's why the infection went at that speed.) I never had a sore throat, no rash, just a very high fever and felt rough.

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 14:11

Garysmum · 02/12/2022 14:09

I caught Strep A. I was fine in the morning when I woke up. At lunchtime I had a very high fever and was vomiting a lot. I was in pain and felt uncomfortable. I was struggling to breathe by 4pm.
Later on I just wanted to sleep.
I had sepsis and was incredibly ill - had I been at home I would have died according to the hospital. (I was pregnant and I think that's why the infection went at that speed.) I never had a sore throat, no rash, just a very high fever and felt rough.

Show quote history

That it so so scary.
I just want the Christmas holidays to hurry up now. I'm not going to be able to rest.

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