Dublin: The Health Service Executive has announced that there have been seven deaths from strep A in Ireland, including four children. All three adult deaths this year were due to bacterial infections, the HSE said.
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said each death was a "tragic case" but stressed these cases were "extraordinarily rare".
Streptococcus is "more common" as a bug that can cause sore throats and scarlet fever. "Death in children is very rare and most children with sore throats and fevers can be managed safely at home," added Dr Henry.
Pharmacies face shortages of basic antibiotics such as amoxicillin. But there is enough stock of antibiotics for streptococcal disease or any other common bacterial disease," says Dr Henry.
Strep A infections are usually mild and easily treated with antibiotics. Diseases caused by group A strep bacteria include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat. There has been a huge increase in the number of scarlet fever cases. Symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat, headache, and fever along with "sandpapery"-like bright pinkish or red body rashes. On darker skin, the rash is harder to see but will always be "sandpapery" or dry.
Strep A infections can develop into more serious invasive group A strep (IGAS) infections, although this is rare.
Strep A: HSE advice on what parents should watch out for !!
Amid concerns about Group A strep, the Health Service Executive wrote to schools and childcare providers earlier this month advising that children with fever, cough and sore throat should be kept at home to prevent a "significant increase in viral infections". "There has been a large increase in common viral infections among children and young adults this winter. There have been recent concerns about a rare bacterial infection iGAS also known as Group A Strep," the letters advise. "There have been more serious (group A strep) infections in Ireland recently", the report said, but "the rate of serious infections so far remains below the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic".
In December, the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Europe should be on alert for serious infections caused by group A streptococcus in children under 10.
📚READ ALSO:
🔘IRELAND: Transfer of power in Ireland when governing roles change; Now Prime Minister Leo Varedkar
🔘INDIA: BJP wins with biggest majority in history; Congress has collapsed
🔘EUROPE: "Economic Growth" Ireland tops euro zone countries
🔘KERALA: House for sale with all amenities near Cial Airport
🔘HSE warned :Flu actively circulating in the community
🔘Extension of the short term visiting visa for parents of non European workers in Ireland
Latest news & information from www.indiansdaily.com ✔click to follow:
