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Eight Scots children hit by Strep A as fears rise over deadly bug

By Ashlie McAnally

EIGHT children in Scotland are suffering from a potentially fatal bug that has claimed at least six lives south of the Border.

Parents have been warned to be on the alert for symptoms caused by the Strep A bacteria which is spread through close contact.

It comes as thousands of children could be kept off school in England this week by parents amid heightened fears about the bug.

Over the past few weeks six primary school-aged children have died of complications after contracting Strep A, a relatively common bacteria which usually only causes mild symptoms such as a sore throat.

Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died aged four after contracting Strep A and suffering a cardiac arrest.

Four-year-old Camila Rose Burns from Bolton, Lancashire, was last night thought to be in a critical condition in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

In Scotland, public health officials say that while eight children under the age of ten have been recorded with the bug in the past few weeks, a further 430 have been recorded with a much milder strain of the infection.

Experts blame the rates, which are five times higher than before the pandemic, on lower childhood immunity due to repeated Covid lockdowns, which is allowing infection to spread in schools.

Public Health Scotland said that while cases had been on the increase since October, this was in line with seasonal expectations.

A spokesman added: ‘It takes time to collect and report all investigations in invasive cases so data is subject to revision on case numbers and mortality.

‘Since October Public Heath Scotland has received reports of eight IGAS [Invasive Group A Streptococcal] cases in children under the age of ten years. There have been no reported deaths in this age group in Scotland this season.

‘The infection is usually diagnosed by development of a characteristic skin rash with headache, sore throat and accompanying high temperature.

‘Whilst Group A Streptococcus, GAS, infections may be common, progression to the most severe manifestations, IGAS, are rare.’

In England, parents of children at schools where pupils have already died have vowed to keep their sons and daughters at home.

There are concerns many more could follow suit, even at schools without confirmed infections, due in part to equivocal advice.

The bacteria are commonly found in the throat and on skin, with some people exhibiting no symptoms. Infections caused by Strep A range from minor illnesses to serious conditions such as scarlet fever and strep throat.

The UK Health Security Agency has warned parents, schools and doctors of the danger signs, including a sore throat which starts quickly, fevers and rashes.

GAS is confirmed in the laboratory through throat swabs, and cases of this milder infection respond promptly to early treatment with antibiotics.

There were 851 cases a week reported across the UK a fortnight ago, while an average of 186 cases were recorded in the same week in previous years.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday, infectious diseases paediatrician Professor Beate Kampmann said Strep A caused ‘an asymptomatic infection in the majority of people, thenthere is a sore throat, then scarlet fever, and in a very, very small minority there will be invasive Group A Strep’.

She said children with a fever should be kept off school.

She added: ‘It starts off with a high fever, very sore throat and very red tongue… eventually developing a rash which feels a bit like sandpaper.’

Most children will recover of their own accord but if a child deteriorates so they are ‘not eating, drinking, being quite flat and lethargic’ parents should call 111 or a doctor, she said.

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