Strep A infection

[Sallydimebar]

Just heard on radio how 4 children have now died of this within the month . Advise is to seek urgent medical care if worried .

How worried should we be about this infection? And am I being unreasonable in thinking it’s so hard at hospitals to seek urgent care . The poor 5 yr old who was sent away with tonsil infection as no bed was available died .

Are antibiotics working?

Well, you would hope the GPs/hospitals/111 would be on alert now and would examine, test, provide urgent antibiotics for children presenting with symptoms.

It makes awful reading doesn't it OP? Those poor little children and parents. It's an absolute tragedy and devastating to think that a 5-year-old would be turned away from hospital. 😪

My DM got a Strep A infection during a stint in hospital last year; she was a fully functioning, totally independent woman going in and came out doubly incontinent and unable to walk as a result. Absolutely bloody hideous infection. 😥

My father has just started 6 weeks of IV antibiotics in hospital for Streptococcus A which has shown up in his blood. He wil also need to have his pacemaker replaced as it has become infected.
Apparently there has been an increase in cases recently.

I don’t think we should blame the increase in strep A infections on migrants.

A leap to blaming migrants? really? What other diseases would you like blamed on them?!

Do we not vaccinate for this?

We’ve found the daily mail reader

There isn't a vaccine

@WishingWell5 yes think that’s what I’ve got to do , stop listening to news .The WHO are putting out a statement later which is all good , but when hospitals are turning 5yr olds away as no doctor or bed available it’s worrying.
The advise of seeking urgent care is very hit and miss at the moment.

Hopefully schools will be finishing soon and will keep spread down .

There is no vaccine against strep A.

Why do you think it's the migrants who are to blame, and not the conditions they are being housed in?

You can't vaccinate for bacterial infections.

It isn't racist to say that it may have come from the migrants in hotels. We know nothing about them or their health and dipheria has already been brought in. It annoys me when people shout bigot or racism at practically anything these days.

Wow. Xenophobia and misinformation. A real goldmine.

It has nothing to do with migrants, and nothing to do with lockdown.
Covid infections though, they may well have a lot to do with it.

There is a lot wrong with the US health system, but when I came down with tonsillitis in America once I had a comprehensive GP appt where they did a swab for strep A as I waited in surgery. The appt cost $100 but they were thorough!

Unfortunately our NHS is way too far the other way and horrifically under-resourced and understaffed. It's quicker and easier to just say "tonsillitis" and stressed GPs will be wanting to try and get patients through asap.

Think this is becoming well known amongst Hospital Drs and GPs and think there will be increasec clinical suspicion, increased testing for it and in breaded use of antibiotics for things we wouldn’t give it for previously (whereas before would be more cautious of handing out to all and sundry to prevent resistance and overuse).

there isn’t a vaccine.

Jesus H Christ on a bicycle Strep A is a common bacteria that normally causes sore throats, skin infections etc and nothing to do with asylum seekers.

OP I'd tend to go along with the reduced exposure idea - due to lock down etc - but, awful as it is, we don't know if any of those poor kids had underlying condition or other issues.

While I wouldn't be overly worried I do agree with your point about access to emergency care

All diseases are global now but there is nothing to suggest this has been brought by migrants. There will be more people visiting the UK on a weekly basis than migrating here every week so that makes no sense based on numbers.

Thanks for info - was just asking re vaccines not giving an opinion

Hopefully they will test for strep A in any cases of doubt now, so as to avoid any more tragedy

Strep A is endemic in this country and has been for decades, if not centuries. It's sod all to do with migrants.

Cases are usually mild, and it should be readily treatable (antibiotics)

But it's always has the potential to be more severe.

There is a growing body of evidence showing that infection with covid can reduce immune function (shown for up to 6 months, don't know if it can be longer, also not known if repeated covid infections have a further impact).

Lots of infectious diseases appear to be producing more serious disease this season. People are however wary of attributing this definitively to a consequence of covid, but it's possible

So worth avoiding covid, and be alert if anyone in the family has symptoms of an infectious disease, and seek medical advice/call 111 is someone becomes very unwell.

@WishingWell5 please explain how you think those poor children caught a Bacterial infection from migrants held up in detention centres and hotels?
I have no doubt whatsoever that you do not watch the news. However, I will assume you read sensationalised news headlines.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if it is absolutely ridiculous and ignorant. Comments like yours a very hurtful, inflammatory and often prejudice. Sometimes it’s best to keep them to yourself.

I wonder if these deaths are due to not being able to get medical care in time, rather than it being some weird strain of strep?