What is Strep A? What to know about infections in the UK.

Several children have died of strep A this season. Here is a quick list of symptoms and other important information.

Health officials in Britain have said several children have recently died after being diagnosed of invasive group A strep, sounding the alarm for schools and urging parents to take action.

"We are seeing a higher number of strep cases from Group A this year than usual," Dr. Colin Brown, the deputy director of the U.K. Health Security Agency, said in a press release on Friday. Although the bacterium usually causes mild infections, he said, in rare circumstances it can cause more serious illnesses. quickly as possible if their child begins to show signs of deteriorating health.

"Although there are more cases this year, the infection itself- even is no more dangerous than in previous years," said Jim McManus, president of the Association of Chief Public Health Officers in Britain. He said there had been a steady increase in Strep A cases since 2016, with the exception of the pandemic when Covid-19 countermeasures meant infections were much more controlled.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0"> "Now we are mixing as usual, the infection is spreading and with the increase in the number of infections, unfortunately there is an increase in the number of serious cases", said he declared. "It also means that there is tragically an increase in the number of people dying."

Here is a breakdown of what we know.

That is group A strep?

Group A strep is a common bacteria that can be found in the throat or on the skin, according to the UK Health Safety Agency. The bacteria does not always cause illness, but it can cause tonsillitis, sore throats, skin rashes, scarlet fever and impetigo.

In people elderly, very young children, or immunocompromised people, the bacteria can also sometimes enter the bloodstream and cause a more serious illness known as invasive group A streptococcus, or iGAS.

Necrotizing fasciitis, necrotizing pneumonia, and toxic strep shock syndrome are some of the infections caused by iGAS. They are frequently fatal.

Is it contagious?

Yes. Group A streptococcus is highly contagious and is spread through close contact with an infected person. It can be transmitted in a number of ways, including coughing, sneezing or touching a sore, health officials said.

Even if a person doesn't not feeling sick or showing symptoms of infection, the bacteria can be transmitted. The risk of spread is higher, however, when a person is visibly ill.

Officials note that infections rarely become severe and that when treated with antibiotics, a patient with a mild illness ceases to be contagious approximately 24 hours after starting treatment.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and rash.

How serious is the situation?

As of Tuesday, seven children in England had died after being diagnosed with invasive group A streptococcus, a spokesman for the UK Health Security Agency said. Additional deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Government officials...