A 12-year-old boy from Lewisham has become the seventh child in recent weeks to die of Strep A, and the first over the age of 10.
The boy, who was a year 8 pupil at Colfe’s School in Lee Green, was the first secondary school pupil in the country to die of the disease. Doctors have issued an alert to parents to be aware of the signs of the potentially fatal disease.
The identity of the boy has not been released. Colfe’s School is an “academically selective” independent mixed-sex school in Lewisham, for children aged 3-18. It is one of the oldest schools in London.
A recent spike in infections was confirmed by an emergency report issued by The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which said there were 851 cases in the week starting on November 20. In previous years, there were approximately 186 cases at this time.
The report said: “There has been an increase in invasive Group A strep cases this year, particularly in children under 10. So far 5 deaths have been recorded within 7 days of a (Strep A) diagnosis in children under 10 years of age.”
Dr. Colin Brown, Deputy Director of UKHSA gave advice to parents worried about their children contracting Strep A: “It is important that parents are on the lookout for symptoms and see a doctor as quickly as possible so that their child can be treated and we can stop the infection becoming serious.”
Group A Streptococcal disease is a type of bacteria often carried in the throat or skin. It can cause mild illnesses such as sore throats, skin infections and rashes. It is common around winter and usually treatable with antibiotics.
Contracting the bacteria is rarely fatal. This can be life-threatening if it turns into Strep A when the bacteria gets into the parts of the body that it is usually free from, such as the lungs, blood or muscles.
Infectious Disease Clinician and epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hopkins in a Twitter thread, says that the increase in cases is not evidence of a new strain. It is due to bacteria circulating as a result of social mixing. Dr. Hopkins also summarised GOV.UK data released on the annual rates of infection, the likelihood of severe reactions, and how to detect Strep A in children.
Per NHS guidelines, call NHS 111 immediately or contact your GP if:
- your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
- your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
- your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39C or higher
- your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
- your child is very tired or irritable
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
- there are pauses when your child breathes
- your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
- your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
Other fatalities so far include: Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Hanna Roap, seven, from Penarth, and two unnamed pupils in Ealing and Surrey.
Three other children under the age of 10 have also died. Their details have not been revealed.
