With at least nine children thought to have died in the UK after catching Group A Strep since September, a North East GP has reassured "understandably worried" parents and shared advice for how best to watch out for the illness.
Group A Strep is a common bacteria that usually causes minor infections. However in some cases it can cause illnesses like scarlet fever or a condition called Invasive Group A Strep (IGAS) which can be lethal. The UK Health Security Agency has warned that cases of the two diseases have risen hugely in recent weeks.
Dr George Rae, a GP at Beaumont Park Medical Centre in Whitley Bay told ChronicleLive he and colleagues around the region had seen a rise in calls from concerned parents. He said parents were right to be vigilant and that doctors were doing "everything we can" to avoid tragedies.
Read more: How does Strep A bacteria spread, what infections can it cause and how does it become invasive?
Though often innocuous and responsible for minor illness, Group A Strep bacteria can in rare cases cause scarlet fever or get into the bloodstream and cause a condition known as Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS). Like in the rest of the country, the UK Health Security Agency is reporting increases in both conditions in the North East.
Nationally, in the week ending December 4 there were 1131 cases of scarlet fever. A week earlier there were 991 and the week before that 950. That's more than four times the average for this time of year.
Dr Rae told ChronicleLive: "Parents are understandably nervous. They have been seeing this on the news and on television over the last week. Having contacted some other [GP] partnerships this morning, the feedback is there have been a few more urgent morning calls this week than you would have usually seen. The way that's been dealt with has been through face-to-face appointments with GPs or other advanced practitioners.
"So yes, we have seen there has been an uptick in worried parents, but that's to be expected - they have been made aware that they should be very vigilant about this."
Dr Rae explained that GPs had been following guidance to use a "lower threshold" for deciding whether to prescribe antibiotics than they otherwise would have. He said that while antibiotic resistance remained a serious issue, it was also important to ensure that potentially dangerous cases of Group A Strep were caught and treated early.
He added: "These infections caused by Strep A are usually very minor but can range from a sore throat to scarlet fever. But they can also develop into the most serious IGAS.
"Mums and dads should be told that in the first instance if your child has a sore throat, swollen glands in the neck and a bit of a temperature, just to give them some form of paracetamol. But if that temperature persists, or a child develops a sandpapery rash and in particular is especially lethargic, then that is time to call NHS 111 or your GP. We are of course doing absolutely everything we can to help.
"This can be passed on through close contact - so you do get outbreaks sometimes in schools. We have to play safe here and err on the side of caution - we don't want any further tragedies. Because that's exactly what has happened to some of these poor families and my heart goes out to them."
He said there was cause for optimism in that, the last time there was a spike in Group A Strep cases - in spring 2016 - this lasted just a few weeks. "One hopes that will be the situation again," Dr Rae said. He also joined the British Medical Association in calling for the Government to work to boost capacity on the 111 telephone service, as this would help already stretched GPs from being overloaded.
Dr Rae's advice comes as the Healthier Together North East and North Cumbria NHS group and the regional child health and wellbeing network has also shared tips for spotting Group A Strep infections and what to do next. The group's advice says: "Sometimes [Group A Strep] can cause mild illnesses like sore throats, occasionally more serious illnesses like scarlet fever and rarely GAS can cause very serious disease such as sepsis, pneumonia or bone infections.
"Whilst serious GAS infections are still rare, there has been an increase in cases this year, particularly in children under 10 and sadly, a small number of deaths. Remember most sore throats and coughs are caused by viruses that will get better by themselves without needing antibiotics. We want parents to know what to look out for and when to seek medical care. "
The medics highlight "red flag" symptoms such fever, a sore throat and "a rash of small, raised bumps that feels rough, like sandpaper" - these could be indicative of scarlet fever. To find out more, click here.
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