Covid has had parents, among much of the rest of the population, fraught with worry for years, and now Strep A has many caregivers beside themselves.
UK health officials have been working closely with schools across the country to try and eliminate the spread of Strep A after a number of children have sadly died due to the infection. The bacterium is most commonly found in the throat and nose that can lead to numerous infections such as scarlet fever, tonsillitis and impetigo.
The bacterium is very common and lots of people will have it unknowingly but in some cases, it can spread to others who may have an increased chance of becoming ill from the infection.
But as parents and carers will know, low odds of serious illness do not stop us from worrying. As a mum, I'm extremely concerned about my little one. In an ideal world, he'd be off nursery and at home with me, but practically there's not a chance of this happening.
There's also the fact he spent much of his young life indoors during the pandemic lockdowns, and I don't want to limit his social interaction any further. As with so many parenting situations, it can be difficult to know what to do for the best.
Are you worried about your child getting strep A? Are you changing your behaviour to stop them from getting it?
The ECHO wants to hear how parents and carers from Merseyside feel about the illness, and how it is impacting our day-to-day lives. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and join the conversation.
