Covid-19 Coronavirus

Streptococcus A (Strep A)

Strep A is a common bacteria found in the skin or throat. Sometimes these bacteria can cause disease. Most Strep A infections are mild and easily treated, but some are more serious.

Strep A infections

Strep A bacteria can lead to a variety of skin, soft tissue and respiratory tract infections ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening, including:

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mostly affects young children.  It is usually mild and easily treated with antibiotics.  The most common symptoms are:

  • sore throat and swollen neck glands
  • headache
  • fever
  • nausea and vomiting
  • a rash of small red bumps may also appear 12 to 48 hours later on the chest and abdomen, which then spreads.

Parents who are concerned that their child or they themselves might have scarlet fever should contact their GP for advice and stay at home.

Complications

Children who have had chickenpox recently are more likely to develop more serious infection during an outbreak of scarlet fever, which can develop into invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS).

iGAS infections

These more serious conditions that are sometimes caused by Strep A include:

  • bacteraemia (an infection of the bloodstream)
  • septic arthritis
  • meningitis
  • necrotising fasciitis (a severe infection involving death of areas of soft tissue below the skin)
  • Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (rapidly progressive symptoms with low blood pressure and multi-organ failure)

iGAS infections tend to happen in the elderly, the very young, or people with an underlying risk factor such as injecting drug use, alcoholism, immunosuppression or cancer.

Get an urgent GP appointment if:

  • your child is unwell and is getting worse
  • your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
  • your child has fewer wet nappies than usual or is peeing less than usual, or shows other signs of dehydration
  • your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38C, or is 3 to 6 months and has a temperature of 39C or higher
  • your child is very tired or irritable

It's important to trust your instincts if your child is unwell. Get medical help if you think you need it. Visit Manx Care’s signposting page for more advice on the most appropriate service depending on your needs.

Call 999 or go the ED if:

  • your child is having difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises, or you may notice their tummy sucking under their ribs
  • there are pauses when your child breathes
  • your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

Preventing infection

Strep A bacteria are spread by close contact between individuals, through respiratory droplets (moisture in your breath) and direct skin contact.

To reduce the risk of catching or spreading infections

  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
  • Bin used tissues as quickly as possible

See Staying safe for more advice

Influenza link to Strep A

Getting flu and other viral infections can increase the risk of invasive Group A Strep infection in the following weeks. As evidence of this, invasive Group A Strep infections increased during the 2009-10 flu pandemic. Having the flu vaccine reduces the risk of getting flu, making you less susceptible to a more serious infection such as invasive Group A Strep.

We recommend that anyone eligible for the flu vaccine, book an appointment at their GP or pharmacy.

Those eligible for the flu vaccination in the Isle of Man are:

  • Aged 50 and over
  • Living in a residential or nursing home
  • The main carer of an older or disabled person
  • Living with someone who has lowered immunity due to disease or treatment
  • Pregnant
  • At higher risk due to health condition
  • A frontline health and social care worker
  • Children aged 2 before September 2022, all primary and some secondary school children
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