Group A Streptococcal infections are caused by Streptococcus; a bacteria. This bacterium can cause many different syndromes such as scarlet fever, laryngitis, erysipelas, impetigo, acute rheumatism, puerperal fever and sepsis. Within group A are two types of infections: the invasive GAS infections and the non-invasive GAS infections.
How Dangerous Is a Streptococcal Infection?
Usually, the non-invasive GAS infections are mild and patients have strep throat and skin infections (such as impetigo). If the bacterium penetrates into underlying tissue or the bloodstream, the infection becomes invasive. These infections are more serious and include puerperal fever, septic shock and necrotizing fasciitis, which causes skin necrosis. Streptococcus is therefore known as the flesh-eating bacteria. RIVM sees a national increase in the number of reports of necrotizing fasciitis.
Flesh-eating bacteria
This spring, three times as many children as normal have been infected with this streptococcal bacteria. This group of children, especially between 0 and 5 years of age, contracted meningitis, blood poisoning, pneumonia or bone or joint inflammation. Eleven children had necrotizing fasciitis. It seems that the chicken pox, who are currently catching upalso cause more complications. One of those complications is a streptococcal infection. The ruptured blisters after a chickenpox infection make it easier for the strep to get under the skin.
Children who suddenly develop a fever again after their chickenpox infection or develop a red spot on the skin that expands should immediately see their doctor as a precaution. In almost half of the recent infections, children had previously had chickenpox. An infection can be very mild one day and very severe the next. It is important to start antibiotics as soon as possible. Antibiotics are very effective against streptococci.
No more serious variant
It is normally very rare that someone dies from strep, the fact that seven children have died in a short time does not mean that it is a more serious variant. According to pediatrician Michiel van der Flier, more children are ill, which means that relatively more children are more seriously ill.
By: National Education Guide / Johanne Levinsky
Sources: RIVM, Algemeen Dagblad, NHG, Trouw
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