A 6-year-old girl died in the emergency room of the Montauban hospital on December 20, 2022 following a bacterial infection of the throat due to streptococcus A. This is the tenth death in France linked to this germ since last September, mainly children under 10 years old.
Arrived with the firefighters in a state deemed “very serious” to the Montauban emergency room, a 6-year-old girl died on Tuesday 20 December 2022. The child had been treated for several days for bacterial angina. But his condition suddenly deteriorated.
Despite the immediate attention of the doctors and nurses of the service, it was not possible to revive her. The samples showed the presence of a particularly aggressive and highly pathogenic strain of streptococcus A.
10 dead in 4 months
A terrible tragedy that worries the health authorities. Since September 2022, the number of cases has increased. The latest human toll reports 59 cases registered in France which resulted in six deaths: five children and one adult. Three other deaths were also recorded before the patients were admitted to hospital. Mainly children under 10 years old.
In his latest report, Public health France notes an increase in severe pediatric cases of IGAS (Invasive Streptococcal Infection Group A) admitted to intensive care units since 1and September 2022. Most cases (66%) are related to respiratory infections with or without toxic shock syndrome.
At the moment there are a lot of sore throats circulating. We deal with it every day. If they are bacterial, antibiotics are needed. But this highly pathogenic germ is impossible to detect. This aggressive strain has been identified in Great Britain and in emergency services in several regions of France.
Hélène Pizzut, Chef du Samu 82
Symptoms of a noninvasive strep A infection include fever, sore throat, and minor skin infections such as rashes, ulcers, bumps, and blisters.
But there are also four key signs to watch out for:
– Temperature
– Intense muscle pain
– Localized muscle tenderness
– Redness around a wound
In order not to cause a wave of psychosis in the population, the head of samu 82 wishes to address the parents’ concerns:
If your child has angina with fever that has persisted for more than 48 hours and their general condition is worrying, you should consult: First a local doctor.
Hélène Pizzut, Chef du samu 82
According to Public health Francethe bacterium is transmitted by respiratory droplets and by direct contact (nasal secretions, skin lesions, etc.).
To limit the risk of transmission, authorities strongly advise adopting the same barrier gestures used against winter viruses:
– to wash hands,
– wear a mask for people with respiratory infections,
– sneeze or cough into the crook of the elbow.
The entourage of the dead child in the Montauban emergency room was treated as a preventative measure. All contact cases (family members and classmates) received antibiotic treatment.
Santé Publique France explains that the resurgence of AGII could derive, at least in part, from a rebound after barrier measures in children whose immune systems have not been in contact with normally circulating strains of GAS. These infections are often also superinfections of viral respiratory infections, which are also on the rise.
