The Community of Madrid has detected, since last October, 16 cases of minors with invasive strep A.
Of these, as confirmed by the health authorities, two girls have died: one on October 25 and the other on December 2, since both presented a very severe clinical picture when they arrived at the emergency services.
As explained by the Health Department of the Community of Madrid, there are another 14 minors diagnosed who are currently still hospitalized with the corresponding antibiotic treatment and “evolving favorably.”
“Superinfection”
The Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP) has stressed in a statement that “in our country the cases of iGAS are being analyzed in recent weeks and months, but the death of some children is known and a number that seems unusually high serious, which could lead one to think that we are also suffering an increase in its incidence. In some children it could be a superinfection from a viral respiratory infection, such as RSV or influenza.
But Spain is not the only country that has seen an increase “unusual” of infections caused by streptococcus bacteria.
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), after the death of nine minors in recent weeks, has urged parents to monitor their children.
In addition, as a spokesman for the British Prime Minister has stressed, Rishi Sunak.
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“This year we are seeing a higher than usual increase in cases. We know that the bacterium causes a mild infection that is easily treated with antibiotics, but in rare circumstances it can enter the bloodstream and cause severe illness.”
What is strep A?
Group A strep live in the nose and throat. And they are transmitted very easily, either when talking, coughing or sneezing.
Like COVID-19, it is spread when an infected person expels respiratory droplets and particles.
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He Streptococcus pyogenes It is a very common bacterium that can cause mild illnesses such as otitis and sinusitis, but it can also lead to serious and invasive infections such as pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis.
In general, a person who has been exposed to group A strep takes between two and five days to present symptoms, as highlighted by the (CDC).
But it is important to bear in mind that there are asymptomatic infected people, who, although they can also infect, do so in a less virulent way than those who do present symptoms.
Symptoms of strep A
“Strep infections are mild infections, but they can be very painful,” and can cause symptoms such as:
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Sore throat and pain when swallowing.
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Fever.
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Redness and inflammation of the tonsils, including with pus.
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Little red dots (petechiae) on the palate.
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Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
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Headache.
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Nausea or vomiting.
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The CDC also warns that “people with strep throat may also have a rash known as scarlet fever (also called scarlet fever).”
Of course, it is important to differentiate between a sore throat caused by a virus, and another caused by a streptococcal infection (bacteria).
The most common symptoms that indicate that it is caused by a virus and not by a bacterium are:
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Cough.
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runny nose
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hoarseness or hoarseness
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Conjunctivitis.
Do you have treatment?
Yes. Strep A infections are treated with antibiotics.
can be used both penicillin as amoxicillinthat:
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Reduce illness time
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Prevent its transmission to other people
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Avoid more serious complications
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And, above all, they relieve symptoms quickly.
To confirm the diagnosis, a swab should be taken from the throat.
In the event of a confirmed case, the , recommends that parents “keep at home, without going to school, all children with a confirmed infection by S.pyogenes until at least 24 hours have been on adequate antibiotic treatment, to prevent the spread and increase in cases”.
It is also advised “to encourage flu vaccination at all ages, provided there are no contraindications, especially in all children between 6 months and 5 years.”