Streptococcus (strep A)

Dec. 25, 2022

Recently, an unseasonal rise in group A Streptococcus has killed many children in the United Kingdom.

What is Streptococcus (strep A)?

Group A Streptococcus (GAS), also known as Strep A, are bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the throat.
Occasionally, this can lead to a condition called scarlet fever, which typically affects young schoolchildren and is characterized by a sore throat, high fever and rough skin rash.
Even it can cause severe diseases such as sepsis, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis.
According to British Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in children under 10 years, the rate of GAS infection is higher than levels reported in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic but substantially higher than in the past two years, according to UKHSA.

Source : The Hindu