THOUSANDS of kids could miss out on school as parents keep them at home as fears grow regarding the Strep A outbreak.
Parents of pupils at schools where classmates have died of Strep A, which can cause scarlet fever and more serious diseases, have already said they will keep their sons and daughters at home.
Many more could follow, even at schools that have not recorded any infections.
In recent weeks, seven school-aged children have died of complications after contracting Strep A, a fairly common bacteria which usually causes only mild symptoms, such as a sore throat.
A 12-year-old boy has become the first secondary school pupil to die from the Strep A winter bug surge.
The lad, was a Year 8 pupil at fee-paying Colfe’s School in Lewisham, South-East London.
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Another student from the same school is believed to be in hospital.
At least seven children are now known to have died from the illness which usually only causes a mild sore throat and temperature — but in extreme cases can lead to a life-threatening infection.
The other deaths were children of primary school age.
Four-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, of High Wycombe, died after contracting Strep A and suffering a cardiac arrest.
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Currently, four-year-old Camila Rose Burns from Bolton, Lancashire, is fighting for her life in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
One of those who died was a six-year-old child, thought to be a girl, at Ashford Church of England Primary School in Surrey.
Teachers at the nearby Echelford Primary School, also in Ashford, last week wrote to parents saying two children had been infected.
They said they had been advised by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that “children should continue to attend school as normal and parents/carers should not be overly alarmed”.
They added: “We would like to reiterate that if well, it is safe for children to attend school as normal.”
However, concerned parents have said they are so worried about the bug, which can be spread easily, they will be keeping their kids at home.
Last night, the UKSHA said it was up to local health protection teams to decide whether parents of children at schools where there have been confirmed infections should be advised to keep them at home.
A spokesman said those teams would make the decision “on a case-by-case basis”.
So far, no affected school has said healthy children should remain at home.
Kids with scarlet fever, where Strep A causes a sandpaper-type rash, should be kept at home, according to information published by UKHSA.
It says: “Scarlet fever is highly infectious and is spread by close contact with someone carrying the bacteria. Coughing, sneezing, singing and talking may spread respiratory droplets from an infected person to someone close by.
“Droplets… may also contaminate hands, eating and drinking utensils, toys or other items.”
It concludes: “Exclusion [from school] is recommended.”
However, there is no advice on whether children with a sore throat – which could be an early warning sign of Strep A or could just be a cold – should remain at home.
Infectious diseases paediatrician Professor Beate Kampmann, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, yesterday said Strep A caused “an asymptomatic infection in the majority of people, then there is a sore throat, then scarlet fever, and in a very, very small minority will there be invasive Strep A”.
She said children with a fever should be kept off school.
She added: “It starts off with a high fever, very sore throat and very red tongue… eventually developing a rash which feels a bit like sandpaper.
“The rash starts in the elbows and behind the neck. It tends to then peel after about ten days.”
Most children will recover of their own accord but if a child deteriorates so they are “not eating, drinking, being quite flat and lethargic” parents should dial 111 or see a doctor, she said.
If given soon enough, antibiotic almost always help clear the infection.
Last night Camila’s father Dean urged parents who suspected their child might have the bug to take them to a doctor immediately.
He said: “Any doubts, if they don’t look right, just scoop them up and take them. Get them checked out rapid.”
He said Camila was showing signs of improvement but added she was “nowhere near out of the woods” and that “anything could take her back the other way”.
The pandemic lockdown is being blamed for the outbreak because children were shuttered away – creating a lower immunity to infections.
The Sun on Sunday’s Dr Jeff Foster said Strep A is one of the most common bugs doctors see in kids every year, but that it is currently surging.
He said: “It is commonly found in children under ten and is spread by droplets and close contact — through spit, sneezing, coughing and touching infected surfaces. It’s the same way you would get a common cold.
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“You can get mild cases where children have a temperature and a sore throat. If it becomes scarlet fever they would get a rash, which looks like sandpaper, around four or five days after the temperature starts, and red flushing cheeks.
"This year’s is not a new variant. It’s the post-Covid effect as kids were not exposed to bugs for two years.”
Q&A with Sun on Sunday’s Dr Jeff Foster
Q) What is Strep A?
A) Group A Streptococcus is the name of a bacteria which can cause different infections and is commonly found in children under the age of ten.
Every year doctors will see a lot of children with suspected Strep A. You can get mild cases where you might not even know what it is because they would just have a temperature and a sore throat.
It can become scarlet fever which you can spot if your children develops a rash. It looks like sandpaper and develops around four or five days after the temperature starts.
The child would also get red flushing cheeks.
Q) What is invasive Group A Strep or iGAS?
A) In very rare cases the bacteria can get invade parts of the body including the blood, muscles or lungs.
Early signs and symptoms of such disease include a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body, redness at the site of a wound and vomiting or diarrhoea.
How many cases have there been?
A) There were 851 cases of Strep A reported in the week ending November 20 — up from the 186 cases expected.
Q) How many deaths have there been?
A) Six deaths are known to have been caused so far by Strep A in children this winter.
Q) How does it spread?
A) It is spread by droplets and close contact — through your spit, sneezing, coughing and touching infected surfaces.
It is passed on in the same way as a common cold.
Q) Why has there been such an increase in cases?
A) It is believed to be because during Covid lockdowns young children were not mixing which would usually help to build up the immune system.
If you are constantly exposed to a little bit of Group A Strep and similar bacteria then your immune system would be ready and would nail it when it comes back into contact.
Q) How is it treated?
A) Scarlet fever and impetigo, which are both caused by Strep A, can be treated with antibiotics.
Mild cases which cause a sore throat or a high temperature will usually clear up on their own.
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