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| What is strep A and what are the symptoms? | |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Health officials say parents should be aware of an infection called strep A, after children in the UK died from it. | Health officials say parents should be aware of an infection called strep A, after children in the UK died from it. |
| Since Covid restrictions eased, there are more opportunities for infections like this to spread. Cases have been increasing in recent weeks. | Since Covid restrictions eased, there are more opportunities for infections like this to spread. Cases have been increasing in recent weeks. |
| While most people do not get extremely sick, the highly contagious bacterium that causes the infection can cause serious illness and complications. | While most people do not get extremely sick, the highly contagious bacterium that causes the infection can cause serious illness and complications. |
| What is strep A? | What is strep A? |
| It's sometimes found in the throat or on the skin. | It's sometimes found in the throat or on the skin. |
| Many people carry it harmlessly without even knowing, but they can spread it to others who might become ill. | Many people carry it harmlessly without even knowing, but they can spread it to others who might become ill. |
| How do you catch strep A? | |
| People can catch it through close contact and from coughs and sneezes. | People can catch it through close contact and from coughs and sneezes. |
| Outbreaks can sometimes happen in places like schools and care homes. | Outbreaks can sometimes happen in places like schools and care homes. |
| What are the symptoms of strep A? | |
| Most often, symptoms are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. | Most often, symptoms are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. |
| But strep A can cause a range of things - and some of them are more serious. | But strep A can cause a range of things - and some of them are more serious. |
| One is scarlet fever, which mostly affects young children and, again, needs antibiotics. | One is scarlet fever, which mostly affects young children and, again, needs antibiotics. |
| What is scarlet fever? | What is scarlet fever? |
| It is a notifiable disease, meaning health professionals must inform local health protection teams of suspected cases. This is so they can be treated quickly and possible outbreaks brought under control. | It is a notifiable disease, meaning health professionals must inform local health protection teams of suspected cases. This is so they can be treated quickly and possible outbreaks brought under control. |
| Scarlet fever causes a noticeable rash | Scarlet fever causes a noticeable rash |
| It causes a rash and flu-like symptoms, including a temperature, sore throat and swollen neck glands. | It causes a rash and flu-like symptoms, including a temperature, sore throat and swollen neck glands. |
| On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel. | On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel. |
| Someone who has scarlet fever may have what doctors call a strawberry tongue - because its appearance looks a bit like a strawberry. | Someone who has scarlet fever may have what doctors call a strawberry tongue - because its appearance looks a bit like a strawberry. |
| Is strep A dangerous? | Is strep A dangerous? |
| Very rarely, strep A can also cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS. | Very rarely, strep A can also cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS. |
| This can be deadly. | This can be deadly. |
| Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. This can happen when you are already ill or are on treatments, such as some cancer therapies, that affect your immune system. | Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. This can happen when you are already ill or are on treatments, such as some cancer therapies, that affect your immune system. |
| Warning signs of invasive disease include: | Warning signs of invasive disease include: |
| fever (a high temperature above 38C) | fever (a high temperature above 38C) |
| severe muscle aches | severe muscle aches |
| Urgent, early medical help is essential. | Urgent, early medical help is essential. |
| The UK Health Security Agency advises: "Anyone with high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should call NHS 111 and seek medical help immediately." | The UK Health Security Agency advises: "Anyone with high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should call NHS 111 and seek medical help immediately." |
| What to do if your child is unwell | What to do if your child is unwell |
| If you think your child may have any symptoms from strep A then you should speak with your doctor. | If you think your child may have any symptoms from strep A then you should speak with your doctor. |
| Tell them if you have been in contact with someone who has had strep A recently. | Tell them if you have been in contact with someone who has had strep A recently. |
| Can adults get strep A? | Can adults get strep A? |
| Yes. Anyone can catch it if they come into close contact with someone who is infected. Most people will not get very sick though. | Yes. Anyone can catch it if they come into close contact with someone who is infected. Most people will not get very sick though. |
| Is there a vaccine for strep A? | |
| No. Strep A is treated with antibiotics. | No. Strep A is treated with antibiotics. |
| What is the UK doing about it? | What is the UK doing about it? |
| Investigations are under way following reports of an increase in infections in children over the past few weeks, particularly with some causing severe illness. | Investigations are under way following reports of an increase in infections in children over the past few weeks, particularly with some causing severe illness. |
| Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating. The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria. | Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating. The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria. |
| Have you and your family been affected by strep A? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you and your family been affected by strep A? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: |
| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
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