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| Strep A: Five-year-old dies from illness linked to bacterial infection | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The girl was a pupil at Black Mountain Primary School in west Belfast | The girl was a pupil at Black Mountain Primary School in west Belfast |
| A five-year-old girl has died from an illness linked to the bacterial infection strep A, BBC News NI understands. | |
| The Black Mountain Primary School pupil became severely ill last week and was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. | |
| On Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school. | |
| It said one of its pupils was diagnosed with a severe form of strep A. | It said one of its pupils was diagnosed with a severe form of strep A. |
| 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. |
| BBC News NI understands the girl had been treated in intensive care but passed away on Monday. | BBC News NI understands the girl had been treated in intensive care but passed away on Monday. |
| On Monday the principal of Brackenagh West Primary School near Kilkeel in County down said dozens of pupils were suffering from strep A infections. | On Monday the principal of Brackenagh West Primary School near Kilkeel in County down said dozens of pupils were suffering from strep A infections. |
| The PHA is asking parents to be vigilant. | The PHA is asking parents to be vigilant. |
| BBC News NI understands the authorities are working closely with those schools that are affected. | BBC News NI understands the authorities are working closely with those schools that are affected. |
| Community groups are also being contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities. | Community groups are also being contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities. |
| 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. But some people who catch it can get very sick. | 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. |
| 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. |
| In the rest of the UK, eight children have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September. | In the rest of the UK, eight children have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September. |
| Of those, seven were in England and the other was a seven-year-old in Wales. | Of those, seven were in England and the other was a seven-year-old in Wales. |
| 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. |
| 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 UKHSA advises that anyone with a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should seek medical help immediately. | The UKHSA advises that anyone with a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should seek medical help immediately. |
| Penicillin B | |
| A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, deputy chairperson of the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee Dr Frances O'Hagan said. | |
| 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," Dr O'Hagan 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. | |
| "And it's a 10-day course, so it's really important that you finish the 10 days." | |
| 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, it is important to remember a majority of cases are mild. | While those looking after children may be nervous about this unfolding story, it is important to remember a majority of cases are mild. |
| The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years, and during the pandemic, children didn't mix and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections. | The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years, and during the pandemic, children didn't mix 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 over the coming weeks. | There is a warning that the number of cases of both strep A and scarlet fever will rise over 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. |
| 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 |