The third child has already fallen victim to type A streptococcus, a bacterium that in standard cases causes only mild illness. What else is known about him?
SkyNews reports that three children have died from type A streptococcus in the UK in the past 7 days. The first case occurred near the capital of Wales, Cardiff. The victim was a child from an elementary school. The second death was a 6-year-old boy at Ashford Church of England school in Surrey. Now London services have reported the death of a student from Ealing in the west of the city. They also warn of outbreaks in schools.
What are type A streptococci?
In the UK, there is a slight increase in cases of Streptococcus A, a bacterium that can cause, incl. scarlet fever. It turns out that many could already have direct contact with him - they cause a purulent form of tonsillitis. They also cause infections of the skin, urinary tract, genital tract, and other diseases.
“Group A streptococcal infection usually results in mild disease. Symptoms typically include a sore throat, fever and minor skin infections that are treated with antibiotics by a general practitioner, said Dr Jimmy Chow, a health consultant at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Unusual streptococcal epidemic
Why did the three children die then? This situation is extremely rare with this type of infection. The UKHSA suggests that the increase in infections is likely a result of the lifting of precautionary measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bacterium can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing and skin contact. The most infected are people over 65, those who are HIV-positive, who use steroids or other drugs, who have diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.
“Any person with a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body, and unexplained vomiting or diarrhea should call NHS 111 and seek immediate medical attention,” Dr. Chou said.
Source: Wprost
