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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

So scared of Strep A

108 replies

Whyemseeaye · 03/12/2022 12:20

AIBU to be completely terrified by the reports of Strep A deaths.

I have two small children and feel beside myself with worry. I keep crying and am considering keeping them both off school until after Christmas.

I appreciate this may sound a bit dramatic but I really wish I had

OP posts:
Original poster
Whyemseeaye · 03/12/2022 12:21

Not read the news.

Sorry posted too soon

OP posts:
Igotjelly · 03/12/2022 12:23

Firstly I’m really sorry you feel like this. It the reality is that Strep A is a common, and generally mild, infection. The chances of your children contracting it and dying are extremely slim.

I think so much of this fear people has is rooted in the messaging around Covid.

CoorieIn · 03/12/2022 12:23

It's usually a mild illness and not anything to worry about. I know that probably doesn't help with health anxiety. Is there any reason you're particularly worried?

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/12/2022 12:24

This is not a new illness. It has been around for centuries. Try and put it at the back of your mind and be mindful if they get ill. How long would you keep them off school for? Why only until Christmas? Strep A isn't going anywhere, you would have to keep them home for years!

Spacebears · 03/12/2022 12:24

I suffer with really bad health anxiety and I'm so worried too. I have a 6 year old with asthma and I'm so scared of her getting in and becoming very sick or dying.

Wishiwasonholiday1 · 03/12/2022 12:24

My daughter, 6, had it a week before it came out in the news (we are Surrey). We went to A&E and she was treated quickly and made a full recovery.

Try not to worry, it is usually not fatal. Just be wary of high temperatures (my daughter's was 40.2 when I called 111).

111 are there to help 24/7.

Dotingmumandgranny · 03/12/2022 12:24

Please don't overthink it. It's truly dreadful for those families who have been affected. However, I do think there's a bit of scaremongering, in tbe wake of covid. Statistically your children are unlikely to catch it. All you can do is keep an eye on them for any symptoms. Most children will be fine after antibiotics.

sanny11 · 03/12/2022 12:25

CoorieIn · 03/12/2022 12:23

It's usually a mild illness and not anything to worry about. I know that probably doesn't help with health anxiety. Is there any reason you're particularly worried?

But it's not an illness that'll just run it's course. It needs treatment otherwise it can turn nasty pretty quickly

Parents might mistake it for something 'viral' and not be able to act until it's too late

AutumnIsMyFavouriteSeason · 03/12/2022 12:26

I've had it 3-4 times in my life. Didn't know it could kill. Antibiotics sorted it in no time. Knowing the symptoms is your best bet - very sore throat /patches on the throat /high fever.

Whatwouldscullydo · 03/12/2022 12:27

Keeping them.off is probably the worst thing you can do. Children need exposure to dirt and germs to build and maintain their immune systems. I'm.so rry you feel so scared , these things have been around the whole time and arent going anywhere. We have to learn to live with it rather than spend your lives trying to shelter from ot all driving yourself insane.

sanny11 · 03/12/2022 12:27

That's strange. NHS usually have pages on illnesses and their symptoms. There's no NHS page for Strep? Anyone know why?

ilkleymoorbartat · 03/12/2022 12:29

My daughter had it 3 years ago. It's been around for ages. She had a rash along with high fever. We took her to hospital and she was treated with antibiotics. Just be aware of the symptoms and don't delay.

But this isn't a new illness.

Sundaetoffee · 03/12/2022 12:29

What antibiotics treat strep a? Is it amoxicillin?

ilkleymoorbartat · 03/12/2022 12:30

@sanny11 it might be under scarlet fever?

jimmyhill · 03/12/2022 12:31

sanny11 · 03/12/2022 12:27

That's strange. NHS usually have pages on illnesses and their symptoms. There's no NHS page for Strep? Anyone know why?

Because it doesn't present as "Strep A" it presents as scarlet fever.

Like how we don't talk about children with varicella zoster, we talk about the illness it causes - chicken pox

elevenplusdilemma · 03/12/2022 12:36

YANBU to be worried. Previously healthy kids sadly die of complications from all sorts of routine illnesses not just Strep A: flu, chicken pox etc. It's very rare but still a reality for some unlucky families.
I think media attention to serious complications of illness has been heightened since Covid and is so we are much more aware of these tragic outcomes from routine infections than we were in the past.
It's still very, very rare.

SavoirFlair · 03/12/2022 12:37

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FearofQueefing · 03/12/2022 12:39

It is very frightening but it's important to keep perspective.

6 children have died, out of probably a million children in the U.K. The media are hyping it up - '6 children dead' sells more papers than '999,994 children not dead'....

Fcuktherain · 03/12/2022 12:40

My 7 year old daughter currently has scarlet fever, has only had one dose of antibiotics and is currently drinking yazoos and eating crisps on the sofa which for us is normally a big no.

My children all had it in 2017, if you are mindful and look out for the symptoms then all should be OK. Don't over worry yourself about something that may not happen.

IntentionalError · 03/12/2022 12:42

It’s just the latest media bullshit health scare story. Just like monkey pox. And bird flu. Have people really learned nothing over last three years?

BedTaker · 03/12/2022 12:44

I do think the media are creating a hysteria around this. It says in the BBC article that in 2017 4 children died of Strep A in the same period that 6 have now died this year. This is not a new disease, its incredibly rarely fatal, but like almost anything, it does happen.

SavoirFlair · 03/12/2022 12:44

IntentionalError · 03/12/2022 12:42

It’s just the latest media bullshit health scare story. Just like monkey pox. And bird flu. Have people really learned nothing over last three years?

They haven’t learned anything because hysteria makes them feel like an active, “responsible” adult participant in their dull lives.

All the rest of us are cavalier and need to “grow up” simply because we learned to contextualise risk.

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 03/12/2022 12:44

Anyone know if the strep A lateral flow tests are any good? Wonder if they are worth having in the back of the medicine cupboard....

SavoirFlair · 03/12/2022 12:45

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Lillygolightly · 03/12/2022 12:55

You are not unreasonable to be worried about it, I am too. It’s a legitimate concern for any parent to have, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be!

The thing to do is to try and separate concern and watchfulness from the media attention. Think about it this way, if the media didn’t report on it and then parents didn’t feel we were adequately informed of increased numbers we would be up in arms about that too and claim so sort of cover up. The media are covering it, as it is newsworthy information, it is alarming yes, but we are now armed with the information and all we can do is keep a close eye on our children and act quickly on symptoms. That’s all we could do before, it’s all we can do now, we just have to try not to over worry, and when it comes to our precious children I know that’s hard.