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| Strep A: Five-year-old girl dies from illness linked to bacterial infection | Strep A: Five-year-old girl dies from illness linked to bacterial infection |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Stella-Lily McCorkindale's school said she was a bright and talented little girl | Stella-Lily McCorkindale's school said she was a bright and talented little girl |
| A five-year-old girl has died from an illness linked to the bacterial infection strep A in Belfast. | A five-year-old girl has died from an illness linked to the bacterial infection strep A in Belfast. |
| Stella-Lily McCorkindale became severely ill last week and was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, but died on Monday. | Stella-Lily McCorkindale became severely ill last week and was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, but died on Monday. |
| Black Mountain Primary School said she was "a bright and talented little girl". | Black Mountain Primary School said she was "a bright and talented little girl". |
| On Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school. | On Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school. |
| Children were asked to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventative course of antibiotics. | Children were asked to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventative course of antibiotics. |
| Black Mountain Primary said Stella-Lily was very popular with both staff and children, and would be greatly missed by everyone. | Black Mountain Primary said Stella-Lily was very popular with both staff and children, and would be greatly missed by everyone. |
| The school is undergoing a deep clean, and the Education Authority's critical incident response team is providing support. | The school is undergoing a deep clean, and the Education Authority's critical incident response team is providing support. |
| Across the rest of the UK, seven children in England and one in Wales have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September. | Across the rest of the UK, seven children in England and one in Wales have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September. |
| Health officials in the Republic of Ireland are investigating the death of a four year old which may be linked to strep A, according to broadcaster RTÉ. | Health officials in the Republic of Ireland are investigating the death of a four year old which may be linked to strep A, according to broadcaster RTÉ. |
| Analysis: Cases are likely to rise | Analysis: Cases are likely to rise |
| Parents need to be vigilant - that is the message from health officials and local doctors. | Parents need to be vigilant - that is the message from health officials and local doctors. |
| While those looking after children may be nervous about this unfolding story, most cases are mild. | While those looking after children may be nervous about this unfolding story, most cases are mild. |
| The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years during the Covid pandemic, children didn't mix as much and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections. | The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years during the Covid pandemic, children didn't mix as much and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections. |
| There is a warning that the number of cases of both strep A and scarlet fever will rise in the coming weeks. | There is a warning that the number of cases of both strep A and scarlet fever will rise in the coming weeks. |
| It is highly contagious so the advice from experts is keep sick children at home. | It is highly contagious so the advice from experts is keep sick children at home. |
| Parents of children who deteriorate quickly should seek urgent medical advice. | Parents of children who deteriorate quickly should seek urgent medical advice. |
| On Monday, dozens of pupils at Brackenagh West Primary School near Kilkeel in County Down were reported to be suffering from strep A infections. | On Monday, dozens of pupils at Brackenagh West Primary School near Kilkeel in County Down were reported to be suffering from strep A infections. |
| Its principal said two had been taken to hospital. | Its principal said two had been taken to hospital. |
| No school closures | No school closures |
| The PHA is asking school parents to be vigilant, and community groups have been contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities. | The PHA is asking school parents to be vigilant, and community groups have been contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities. |
| The PHA's Dr Philip Veal said the science did not support closing schools amid clusters of strep A infections as this would have limited impact and children would continue to congregate in other settings. | The PHA's Dr Philip Veal said the science did not support closing schools amid clusters of strep A infections as this would have limited impact and children would continue to congregate in other settings. |
| Dr Philip Veal said parents concerned about their child should contact their GP. | |
| Dr Philip Veal said parents concerned about their child should contact their GP. | |
| He said there was an increase in infections every four or five years, lasting anything from a couple of weeks to a few months. | He said there was an increase in infections every four or five years, lasting anything from a couple of weeks to a few months. |
| Such increases typically stopped naturally as the numbers of those susceptible were exhausted, he added. | Such increases typically stopped naturally as the numbers of those susceptible were exhausted, he added. |
| "We have seen a rapid increase over the last one to two weeks," he told BBC's Evening Extra programme. | "We have seen a rapid increase over the last one to two weeks," he told BBC's Evening Extra programme. |
| "What is unusual is the time of year we are seeing it. It would be more normal to see it in the spring." | "What is unusual is the time of year we are seeing it. It would be more normal to see it in the spring." |
| Dr Veal added that in a cluster of cases - for example in a school - anyone with symptoms should be assessed by a doctor, who would decide if they should be given antibiotics. | Dr Veal added that in a cluster of cases - for example in a school - anyone with symptoms should be assessed by a doctor, who would decide if they should be given antibiotics. |
| He added there was no vaccine licensed and in regular use against strep A. | He added there was no vaccine licensed and in regular use against strep A. |
| What is Strep A? | What is Strep A? |
| Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. | Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. |
| But some people who catch it can get very sick. | But some people who catch it can get very sick. |
| Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature. | Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature. |
| Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October. | Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October. |
| Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly. | Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly. |
| Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know | Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know |
| Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. | Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. |
| The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last high season for iGAS infection - there were four deaths in England. | The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last high season for iGAS infection - there were four deaths in England. |
| Sudden deterioration | Sudden deterioration |
| There were 122 scarlet fever cases of scarlet fever across Northern Ireland in November, which is much higher than usual for this time of year. | There were 122 scarlet fever cases of scarlet fever across Northern Ireland in November, which is much higher than usual for this time of year. |
| But the number of cases of invasive group A strep, or iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019 (before the pandemic). | But the number of cases of invasive group A strep, or iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019 (before the pandemic). |
| Dr Veal said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years. | Dr Veal said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years. |
| A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, said GP Dr Frances O'Hagan. | A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, said GP Dr Frances O'Hagan. |
| In these cases children should be taken to A&E as quickly as possible. | In these cases children should be taken to A&E as quickly as possible. |
| "The other thing to be aware of is that the treatment for strep A is an antibiotic called Penicillin V," she said. | "The other thing to be aware of is that the treatment for strep A is an antibiotic called Penicillin V," she said. |
| "Penicillin V does not taste very nice so children will not like it, but it's very important that you get it into your child. | "Penicillin V does not taste very nice so children will not like it, but it's very important that you get it into your child. |
| "And it's a 10-day course, so it's really important that you finish the 10 days." | "And it's a 10-day course, so it's really important that you finish the 10 days." |
| Gerard Greene, from Community Pharmacy, told BBC's Evening Extra programme that a sudden surge in demand for a particular drug often leads to pharmacies running out of stock. | Gerard Greene, from Community Pharmacy, told BBC's Evening Extra programme that a sudden surge in demand for a particular drug often leads to pharmacies running out of stock. |
| Paul McDonagh, who runs a pharmacy in west Belfast, said he had run out. | Paul McDonagh, who runs a pharmacy in west Belfast, said he had run out. |
| "I managed to get a couple of bottles but the price has rocketed," he said. | "I managed to get a couple of bottles but the price has rocketed," he said. |
| "It's almost 10 times the price we get to dispense it." | "It's almost 10 times the price we get to dispense it." |
| What should parents do? | What should parents do? |
| As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if: | As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if: |
| your child is getting worse | your child is getting worse |
| your child is feeding or eating much less than normal | your child is feeding or eating much less than normal |
| your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration | your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration |
| your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher | your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher |
| your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty | your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty |
| your child is very tired or irritable | your child is very tired or irritable |
| Call 999 or go to A&E if: | Call 999 or go to A&E if: |
| your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs | your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs |
| there are pauses when your child breathes | there are pauses when your child breathes |
| your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue | your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue |
| your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake | your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake |