Public Health France published, on Tuesday, the first situation update for the year 2023 on pediatric cases of invasive Group A Streptococcal infections.
The latest report from Public Health France (SPF) on the resurgence of invasive group A Streptococcal infections shows “a decrease” in the number of cases in critical care services between January 1 and 29, but it also announces two deaths. additional.
Thus, in this first point of the year 2023, SPF specifies that more than half of the cases occurred following a viral infection. Since the beginning of the year, 121 cases have been identified in four weeks, this is 30 more than during the last epidemiological update of January 1, 2023 which took stock of the last two weeks of the year 2022.
A total of 11 children died in hospital, i.e. one more death since January 1. Six other children died before they might be hospitalized. There too, this is one more than in the previous balance sheet.
As a reminder, the current epidemiological situation of infections with the bacterium Streptococcus A is not “linked to the emergence of a new bacterial strain but mainly to two genotypes (emm12 and emm1) already known”. This sudden increase in cases “might result, at least in part, from a post-barrier measures rebound in children whose immune system has not been in contact with the strains that usually circulate. These infections are also frequently secondary infections of ‘viral respiratory infections, which are also on the rise’.
What symptoms?
As a reminder, symptoms of a noninvasive group A strep infection include fever, sore throat, and mild skin infections like rashes, ulcers, bumps, and blisters.
But there are also four key signs to look out for in particular, according to the NHS, UK health authorities:
– Fever
– Intense muscle pain
– Localized muscle tenderness
– Redness around a wound
Transmission
According to Santé Publique France, the bacterium is transmitted by respiratory droplets and direct contact (nasal secretions, skin lesions, etc.).
To limit the risk of transmission, the authorities strongly advise adopting the same barrier gestures used once morest winter viruses:
– hand washing,
– wearing a mask for people with respiratory infections,
– sneeze or cough into the bend of the elbow.
