General News
11 September, 2023
Get ahead of Strep A, health service urges
Following an increase in strep A cases across Victoria, the local health service is urging residents to be aware of the symptoms of the infection. With only one adult case reported in the Central Goldfields Shire this year, the Maryborough District...
Following an increase in strep A cases across Victoria, the local health service is urging residents to be aware of the symptoms of the infection.
With only one adult case reported in the Central Goldfields Shire this year, the Maryborough District Health Service (MDHS) is encouraging vulnerable groups to get ahead of the infection caused by the group A streptococcus (GAS) bacteria — which can in some situations lead to a more deadly invasive Strep A infection.
According to MDHS, those most at risk include people over 65 and those under the age of five, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Given the vulnerability of children we would like to remind parents to be alert to the signs of Strep A,” MDHS executive director nursing, midwifery & allied health Robyn Wilson said.
“GAS is a type of bacteria that can cause skin, soft tissue and respiratory tract infection which can vary from mild to severe.
“It is quite common and can easily spread from person-to-person via respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated skin and surfaces.
“Most people will know it as the cause of a throat infection and tonsillitis but it can cause scarlet fever, skin sores and skin infections. In rare cases it can cause serious, and potentially life-threatening infections which are known as invasive Strep A disease.”
Ms Wilson said that parents should be on the lookout for mild symptoms like — throat pain that usually comes on quickly, painful swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus, tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth, swollen tender lymph nodes in the neck, fever, headache, rash and body aches.
Parents are also being urged to seek medical advice or to call their doctor if their child has a sore throat for more than two days, a sore throat accompanied by either swollen lymph glands or a rash, problems breathing and a lack of improvement after taking antibiotics for 48 hours if strep has been diagnosed.
“It is important to stay at home if you are unwell to rest and recover and reduce the chance of infecting others,” Ms Wilson said.
“Children with an infection must not go to school, kindergarten or childcare centres until they have received at least 24 hours of antibiotic treatment and feel well.
“Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to ensure children are up-to-date with all routine immunisations including varicella (chickenpox vaccination) to help prevent viral infections that increase the risk of Strep A.”
For more information on the signs and symptoms of Strep A and what to do visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au