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?

The rumour mill has started…There’s a Facebook post doing the rounds stating that Pharmacies are doing throat swabs and handing out antibiotics over the counter. People are sharing this information and causing problems I. Pharmacies.
Pharmacies can’t do throat swabs or dish out AB’s without a prescription from a doctor. A spokesperson has put out a statement to this effect but it’s still being shared.

I’m worried about Ds catching it and Dd 16 has come home from college complaining of sore throat and feeling sick 🙈
Can I just ask are red dots on tongue ok as long as not white , it’s just red at back on both sides .
excuse the locket.

BBC report says the last outbreak like this was 300 years ago

Dr Krishna Ramkhelawon, Southend's director of public health, said strep A cases had presented themselves earlier than normal this winter.
The last time there was a similar outbreak was in 1718, he said.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-63873559

I know two kids who've had it (as Scarlet Fever) and it has responded well to Penicillin. It's important that people are aware of the strep outbreak and consider taking their kids to A&E if they're ill but the death rate is low.

@Sallydimebar how have masks caused this? Sounds like more immunity debt nonsense. Masks prevent spread of respiratory illness, even cloth/surgical ones are better than none.

@JenniferBooth no masks will not magic up more GPs but they will reduce the number of sick people and sick GPs. It's insane that medical settings don't require mask wearing as standard.

I highly recommend investing in some N95 masks like the 3M Aura. Unlike surgical masks, they can be reused multiple times, and they don't touch your mouth so are far more hygienic. For children, KF94 "fish style" Korean masks are comfortable and also don't touch their mouths.

" advice is to seek medical help" that poor man in northern island carried his dying daughter into hospital, seeking medical attention to be told to give her lucozade.
This is what worries me

Fucking lucozade.

Please don't seek detailed medical advice about a child on here, if you have concerns you must speak to 111 or your GP.

No one can diagnose your child here.

But they would mean fewer transmissions of a wide range of infectious illnesses so lower demand for GPs

In all honesty though, after reading Stella Lily's story, how can ANYONE have any shred of faith or trust in doctors or hospitals?

There's good reason to suspect that the fact that COVID damages your immunity has something to do with this

Have we even confirmed that the children with serious complications had covid? No I don't think so. Let alone an evidence based connection.

Its a spike in infections that has likely nothing to do with Covid.

I really don't know how. And if you press them a bit and question them, some of them get pissy- like how dare you ask me why we are doing what we are doing with your kid ?

I watched a really good video on how to stop being dismissed by doctors etc if you're still worried.

Ask them what the differential diagnosis is and why they've come to the conclusion that it's not the differential diagnosis. Keep pushing them and don't leave until you're satisfied.

@Jenasaurus The last time there was a similar outbreak was in 1718, he said.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-63873559

I'm pretty sure that's meant to say 2017-2018.

It’s so awful that so many of these children have been sent away from doctors twice or even three times. It makes me so so angry. Being busy is no excuse for telling parents to give their children fucking lucozade.

I had to stand my ground and be very assertive with a junior Dr in paediatric assessment unit once. My 8 week old had symptoms of meningitis, junior Dr didn’t agree, he kept on about loose nappies and that all ds needed was dioralyte drink. I told him “beware the red herring “ and “look at the whole patient”, I had been a qualified nurse for 20 years at that point. I refused to leave and 3 hours later ds was diagnosed with meningitis.
That arrogant crap junior Dr is now a very crap GP.

I've had 22 surgeries and spent half my life in hospital with varying degrees of care. One thing I've learnt is you need to advocate, strongly, for yourself and your children. Learn how to speak to Dr's, be firm and don't be emotional. Make it known that you WILL be a problem if you aren't happy with the treatment you are receiving. The NHS is wonderful, and I have so much sympathy for the stress that those in the medical profession are under, but we need to stop feeling guilty for wanting and insisting on proper medical care in this country and infantilising Dr's and nurses. Yes they are under pressure and underpaid and its beyond shit what the tories have done to this country, but they are trained medical professionals and proving you with the medical care you need is literally their job.

Sending a virtual hug your way!

(I haven't read through all the posts, but stopped at yours and hope i haven't missed anything in relations to this)

100%

Some people don't actually want be to be doctors 😒their families 'encourage' them into the profession for the perceived prestige. I'm guessing this is one such 'doctor'. Such a shame.

@carefulcalculator oh yes will do . I think it could be Tonsillitis will see how she goes today .

That makes more sense :)