The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning to the medical community on Thursday regarding an increase in pediatric cases of invasive group A strep infections.
The bacteria that cause strep throat and scarlet fever are the same as those that cause Group A streptococci, but invasive infections are more serious cases in which the bacteria spread to areas of the body that such pathogens normally do not reach, such as the bloodstream.
Although rare, “these severe and invasive diseases are associated with high mortality rates and require immediate treatment, including appropriate antibiotic therapy,” according to the CDC’s health advisory.
The increase in invasive strep A was first detected in the United States in November, among children at a Colorado hospital, according to the CDC. According to the advisory, potential increases in cases “in other states were subsequently noted” after that.
According to Colorado’s public health department, two young children have died in the Denver metro area since November 1.
The CDC noted in its Thursday advisory that the rise in strep A infections coincides with an increase in respiratory viruses such as RSV, influenza, and Covid. According to data from the Department of Health and Human Services, 74% of pediatric inpatient beds were full as of Wednesday.
Some children who develop severe strep A infections begin with a viral respiratory infection.
According to the CDC, the overall number of invasive group A strep infections among children remains low, and the condition is rare.
According to the CDC, the risk of contracting strep A increases seasonally in all age groups. In general, people over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic illnesses are more vulnerable to invasive strep infections.
As a result, the CDC stressed the “importance of early recognition, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of these diseases in children and adults.”
Since mid-September, at least 21 children in England have died from invasive group A strep. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency reported 94 deaths in England across all age groups in an advisory issued on Thursday.
According to the World Health Organization, cases are also increasing in France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
