Here’s what you need to know.
Several pediatric viruses have detected an increase in invasive group A streptococcal infections, prompting the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue an official warning.
Group A strep is a type of bacteria that can cause a range of illnesses, from strep throat and scarlet fever to skin infections. One invasive The case of strep A refers to when the bacteria spreads to parts of the body it doesn’t normally reach, such as the bloodstream.
According to CDC warningThis can lead to serious illness, even death, and requires immediate treatment with antibiotics.
At the time of writing, at least two children in the United States and 21 in the UK died as a result of contracting the infection, by TODAY.
The UK Health Security Agency said in a notice last week that cases tend to increase sharply in new Year but seem to have increased earlier than expected, an unfortunate fact that was also seen this year with the rise in RSV and flu case.
Children’s hospitals in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Washington apparently reported higher than average case counts this season compared to previous years.
“While the total number of cases has remained relatively low and (invasive group A strep) infections remain rare in children, the CDC is investigating these reports,” the agency said.
He also added that in some parts of the country, the increase in Strep A is occurring at the same time as “increased circulation” of respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, COVID-19[feminine] and other respiratory viruses.
Non-invasive Strep A diseases, according to the CDC, include strep throat, scarlet fever, and impetigo, while much more serious conditions resulting from invasive Strep A infection include cellulitis with blood infection, pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis (popularly known as flesh-eating disease), and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), “which can progress very quickly to low blood pressure, multiple organ failure and even death, according to the official communication.
Strep A is transmitted by contact with droplets from an infected person when they cough, sneeze or talk. Group A strep cases tend to follow a seasonal pattern, peaking between December and April In the United States, it is most common in children 5 to 15 years old.
Signs of a group A strep infection, according to the Colorado Department of Health, include:
Signs that a child’s strep infection may be invasive include:
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A change in mental state. “Perhaps you are not able to wake the child, or the child is not responding normally,” said Dr Ethan Wiener, chief of emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital. NYU Langone Health Hassenfeld. told the media. “It’s different from the kid feeling jaded or lying on the couch all day.”
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Early signs of necrotizing fasciitis, which the CDC says include: a rapidly spreading area of red, warm, or swollen skin; severe pain, including pain beyond the area of skin that is red, hot, or swollen; fever. Later stage signs include: ulcers, blisters or black spots on the skin; changes in skin color; pus or oozing from the infected area; dizziness; fatigue; diarrhea or nausea.
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Early signs of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which the CDC says include: fever and chills, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Later signs, which usually develop 24 to 48 hours after the first symptoms, include: low blood pressure; heart rate faster than normal; rapid breathing; Signs of organ failure, such as inability to produce urine or yellowing of the eyes.
High fever and labored breathing, along with “difficulty coordinating swallowing with breathing” in young children, “should prompt parents to call their caregiver or seek emergency care, depending on the severity.” of the situation,” Dr. Ishminder Kaur, pediatric infectious disease specialist at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, said. TODAY.
In addition to receiving the varicella vaccine and flu injections, to prevent Strep A infections, the CDC recommends washing your hands often for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing and before preparing food or eating. You should also cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue and throw it away immediately, or use the top of your sleeve or your elbow as a last resort, never your hands, to help prevent the spread of germs.
However, as always, if in doubt about your child’s condition, consult a professional doctor.
For more in-depth information, visit the CDC website.
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