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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:
Hugasauras · 02/12/2022 18:21

HairyToity · 02/12/2022 18:01

Quick question I missed to fill in the forms for my DC to have nasal flu vaccine at school, my DH says with all these nasty bugs doing the rounds we should go via doctors/ pharmacy and get them the flu vaccine. I don't think it'd make an iota of difference. Views?

I don't really understand your question. Make an iota of difference to what? It'll reduce the chance of them getting flu/the severity if they do get it. Of course it won't make a difference to bugs that aren't flu.

Hugasauras · 02/12/2022 18:22

And I absolutely would get it done, yes.

Blessedbethefruitz · 02/12/2022 18:24

@UnmentionedElephantDildo Around half the kids in my ds nursery room are on antibiotics, and were refusing fluids for 24 hours plus (including mine), and several have been kept at hospital with eventual Scarlet Fever diagnosis. It seems pretty severe down here...

Possibly I'm over anxious since we've already had several days stay in hospital this year with his periorbital cellulitis though. I don't like seeing my kids floppy from a non obvious (ie d&v or chicken pox) cause.

My ds is fine now. His second course of ABs was game changing overnight, he is himself again :)

CarefreeMe · 02/12/2022 18:26

Anyone can get it but it’s more harmful to younger children.

Usually it’s not going to cause you too much harm and it can be treated with antibiotics if it gets too bad but if you’re feeling unwell then it’s best to stay home and rest if you can.

I have got it and I am isolating for 5 days like I would with covid, as I work with secondary aged kids who are vulnerable or have younger siblings.

I will also go back to wearing a mask for a few days afterwards to try and do my bit to stop the spread.

There are a few things going around do it’s hard to tell what’s what but there’s this, covid, D&V and flu.
You or your children are most likely to get something but there’s no need to panic as the vast majority are fine.

humdingle · 02/12/2022 18:27

I’m worried because we’ve had a PHE letter to say there’s a case of invasive group A strep in our school (ie what has sadly killed those children). I hope that poor child is ok and it doesn’t spread through our school. Feels very close and very scary.

BlackCatTabbyCat · 02/12/2022 18:34

I feel sick. My 5 year old had chicken pox a couple of weeks ago which puts her at increased risk. I also work in a nursery and school I'm worried sick she is going to catch it at school or I'm going to catch it at work and pass it on to her. I hated every minute of lockdown and didn't want the schools to close but my god I would give anything for one right now. I know I'm coming across dramatic but I have horrible health anxiety about her after I nearly lost her at birth Sad

BeeBeeSea · 02/12/2022 19:05

Does anyone know, if you had scarlet fever a few years ago, could you get it again? And does It protect you in anyway against getting invasive step a ?

StollenAway · 02/12/2022 19:16

BeeBeeSea · 02/12/2022 19:05

Does anyone know, if you had scarlet fever a few years ago, could you get it again? And does It protect you in anyway against getting invasive step a ?

Yes you can get it again. I’m not sure if it’s protective but would sort of assume not as any infection has the potential to go septic I think?

Schlaar · 02/12/2022 19:54

humdingle · 02/12/2022 18:27

I’m worried because we’ve had a PHE letter to say there’s a case of invasive group A strep in our school (ie what has sadly killed those children). I hope that poor child is ok and it doesn’t spread through our school. Feels very close and very scary.

Wow. If it was in my kids school I’d be keeping them off. Let them fine me! At least my kids would be alive.

Elizabeth110100 · 02/12/2022 20:03

My daughter has had scarlet fever twice within the space of a year.
First time she wasn't too ill but the second time she was very poorly with it. Since she had it the second time she seems to have developed allergies and asthma. It could be a coincidence; it probably is....but it does make me think.

I am always very vigilant with sore throats now. My daughter's was so sore when she had SF that she couldn't even eat McDonald's. So if her throat is that bad I keep an eye on her tongue and her tummy and back for the sandpaper rash.

Elizabeth110100 · 02/12/2022 20:11

Oh and fwiw I got a very sore throat when my daughter had SF the first time. I saw a doctor and they prescribed me antibiotics as they said it could be the strep infection that hasn't developed into SF. It was the worst sore throat I have ever had though, awful.

StollenAway · 02/12/2022 20:21

Yes the sore throat is something else! Never mind McDonalds I couldn’t even swallow my own spit - I had to keep a cloth by the bed to spit into (disgusting I know). About the only bearable thing was a mini milk because I could sort of numb my throat with it.

ListenLinda · 02/12/2022 20:53

Another child seriously ill in hospital. I’m starting to get worried.

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 21:41

ListenLinda · 02/12/2022 20:53

Another child seriously ill in hospital. I’m starting to get worried.

Where have you seen that?

Original poster
Beebz · 02/12/2022 21:47

ofwarren · 02/12/2022 21:41

Where have you seen that?

Show quote history

It's on twitter, a little four year old girl is in intensive care. Can't even imagine what her parents are going through.

OP posts:
ofwarren · 02/12/2022 21:56

GlorifiedChair · 02/12/2022 21:49

It's so frightening. It says she just complained of a sore chest.
I've got 2 kids with bad coughs at the moment, one is immunosuppressed.
It makes me just want to take them out of school till the new year.

Clarabe1 · 02/12/2022 22:03

I could be talking rubbish (seeing as I am not a scientist!! but I was always of the belief that young kids were always getting colds etc because they were building their immunity? You can’t help but wonder if the first bug doing the rounds has taken a massive toll because of low immunity amongst kids. Is this a factor? Does anyone know?

Midnightsbecomemyafternoons · 02/12/2022 22:45

I bad iGAS which turned into sepsis when I was in hospital delivering DD. Just horrible. I almost didn't make it.

It's really upsetting hearing about the rise of cases in children. It just doesn't bare thinking about.

Bunnycat101 · 02/12/2022 23:08

We’ve got scarlet fever going round nursery at the moment. My 3yo had a very nasty bout of tonsillitis a few weeks ago so wondering if she actually had strep throat. I’ve had it once and it knocked me for six.

We’ve also had a letter from school saying absence was unusually high this week and that they’re trying to up infection control/please don’t send in kids if they’re borderline. One of mine has been off feeling rubbish. There is a lot circulating around children at the moment.

Sunnydaysahead2 · 02/12/2022 23:12

This is so tragic. Strep has always been around and had the potential to become serious. I had it in childhood and it was painful and felt as debilitating as the flu/tonsillitis, with an absolutely raw feeling in the throat. My DC had strep a few years ago and the doctor initially treated it like a typical childhood bug - stay home and rest. When it got worse I was worried and pushed for a test, which resulted in an antibiotics prescription which finally cleared it up. Frustrating the testing was not carried out earlier, given the potential for complications.

ThaiDye · 03/12/2022 00:46

@StollenAway @Stickytoastandhoney there is a lot of speculation out there about "immunity debt". Note the term was invented in 2021 to justify school reopening. Please see this very clear article in the FT about how thinking your immune system is a muscle that needs "exercise" to strengthen it with regular infection is not true. A microbiologist is not an immunologist.

COVID damages immunity by destroying your T cells. Since pretty much every child in the UK has had COVID at least once, their ability to fight off infection is weakened. This is what we should be concerned about.

www.ft.com/content/0640004d-cc15-481e-90ce-572328305798

Note that the only newspapers that seem to be sounding the alarm are the business ones (FT, Forbes...) because illness hurts profit lines.

ThaiDye · 03/12/2022 00:51

@Clarabe1 see my previous post and read the FT piece. No need to keep infecting your child to build their immunity. Playing in dirt is another matter.

I also cited other research from Denmark, can't remember if this thread or another, that shows that lockdowns benefited children by reducing the hospitalisation rate of the cohort of the age that would normally have caught it during lockdown. Here's the twitter summary twitter.com/BarclayBenedict/status/1597172291447971840?t=8TMCIKzwS0WX8tjDTeWIng&s=19

thismotherhoodthing · 03/12/2022 01:14

This is really scaring me. My LO starts nursery on Monday which I'm already anxious about but I can't stop thinking about this.

HollyJollyNovember · 03/12/2022 01:18

@thismotherhoodthing I understand your concern. Just be aware for the signs.
Listlessness, high temp, not wanting to eat or drink etc.

If you're concerned go to a&e and they will be ready to give advice/ admit based on symptoms. I know Mumsnet and the media is all about how shit the nhs and a&e is but actually we've now been told ( my trust) to admit every child with strep symptoms for 24 hours and swab them, if they fit the criteria to discharge home and call if they need different antibiotics to strep. All children will now be given antibiotics for strep