Child’s Strep A death underlines increased post-pandemic risk

A PRIMARY schoolchild has died after catching the bacterial infection Strep A amid concerns about a post-pandemic rise in such cases.

The condition is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), which is easily treated with antibiotics such as penicillin if caught early enough.

The bacteria most commonly causes tonsillitis or scarlet fever but in rare and severe cases people can develop “invasive Group A Strep”, or IGAS.

A year one pupil at Ashford Church of England School in Surrey developed IGAS and died earlier this week.

Strep A occurs when the bacteria enters parts of the body it does not normally reach, such as the bloodstream. It then releases toxins which can lead to shock, sepsis or pneumonia.

Official statistics from the UK Health Security Agency show that for every 100,000 cases of scarlet fever, 3.1 people will develop IGAS. However, the rate is around nine per 100,000 for children aged under one and eight per 100,000 for those aged one to four.

Data show the rate of IGAS is higher this year than it was pre-pandemic for children aged one to nine. There have been almost 16,000 cases of scarlet fever in England in the past 12 months and 1,766 cases of IGAS.

For the past two winters, with social isolation measures enforced as a result of the Covid pandemic, there have been very few seasonal viruses circulating, ensuring other diseases did not spread.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of immunity. I don’t think that children are more likely to get [Strep A] than before, I just think that we haven’t seen it,” said Dr Liz Whittaker, a consultant in paediatric infectious diseases at Imperial College. An individual’s risk from the virus is the same as pre-pandemic, she added, but their exposure is higher now.

Health authorities have said children who recently had flu or chickenpox are more likely to develop a serious case of IGAS. Chickenpox causes lesions which allow the bacteria into the bloodstream. With flu, the viral infection damages the respiratory system and changes the immune system making it easier for the bacteria to spread within the body.

Most sore throats and coughs are caused by viral infection and antibiotics will not work and a child will most likely recover on their own. If a sore throat gets worse it may be a sign of strep throat or tonsillitis. The bacteria can also cause scarlet fever – a sore throat, red tongue, red face and red rash.