The CDC said it is hearing anecdotes about a possible increase in invasive group A strep infections. Four children's hospitals are seeing more cases than usual.
A microbiologist holds a blood agar plate showing the beta-hemolysis caused by the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.Several children's hospitals in the U.S. have detected increases in invasive group A strep infections, a severe and sometimes life-threatening illness that occurs when bacteria spread to areas of the body that are normally germ-free, such as the bloodstream.
Children's hospitals in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Washington told NBC News they are seeing higher-than-average numbers of cases this season compared to past years. Dr. James Versalovic, the pathologist-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, said his facility — the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S. — has seen"a greater than fourfold increase" in potentially invasive infections in the last two months compared to the same period last year.In the U.K., at least 15 children have died from invasive group A strep since mid-September. The U.K. Health Security Agencythat cases tend to rise sharply in the new year but appear to have spiked earlier than expected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, said it is “hearing anecdotes from some U.S. doctors of a possible increase in [invasive group A strep] infections among children in the United States” and is “talking with surveillance sites and hospitals in multiple states to learn more.” Group A streptococci are the same bacteria that cause strep throat, as well as skin conditions like scarlet fever and impetigo . Some people with invasive group A strep may develop those conditions, as well, but in many cases the first sign of invasive strep A is a secondary infection, like pneumonia or flesh-eating disease.An invasive infection can trigger the following: Lower airway infections like pneumonia or emphysema, which are characterized by pockets of pus in the fluid-filled space surrounding the lungs. Early signs of such infections include fever, chills, difficulty breathing or chest pain. Skin infections like cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease. Both conditions involve red, warm, swollen or painful rashes. Necrotizing fasciitis spreads quickly and can turn into ulcers, blisters or black spots. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, an immune reaction that can lead to organ failure. The condition often begins with fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea or vomiting and then causes rapid heart rate or breathing. Anyone can get invasive strep A, including healthy adults, but people over 65 and those with chronic illnesses are more susceptible. It is not yet clear why hospitals are seeing an uptick in cases among kids in particular. The CDC said it may be related to the rollback of Covid mitigation measures and the surge of respiratory viruses like flu, Covid and RSV. “Oftentimes, kids who develop severe group A strep infections will start out with having a viral respiratory infection,” said Dr. Sam Dominguez, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.of noninvasive group A strep every year, but invasive infections are rare, at around 14,000 to 25,000 cases annually, according to the CDC. Between 1,500 and 2,300 people die of the invasive infections every year. The CDC said it observed decreases in such infections across all age groups during the last two years.At Phoenix Children’s Hospital, case numbers have been rising since the end of October or early November, said Dr. Wassim Ballan, the division chief of infectious diseases. But he said the condition is uncommon compared to RSV or flu. “Even though we’re seeing that this is an uptick in cases, the absolute number itself is not huge," Ballan said. Unlike RSV and flu, which tend to pose the most serious threats to very young children, doctors said they're treating kids of all ages for invasive group A strep right now. “We’ve had teenagers, younger kids, kind of the whole range," said Dr. Sara Vora, an infectious disease expert at Seattle Children’s. “We had a fairly sick teenager last week who came in with kind of a sepsis presentation and was in the ICU on a ventilator for a few days and then had a fairly rapid recovery and is doing very well," Vora added."That’s probably the most severe case that I have seen.” But children’s hospitals in several other states — California, New York, Illinois and Minnesota — said they have not detected any increase in invasive group A strep. Parents worried about their children's health should consider seeking emergency medical attention if their children are sleepier or more lethargic than normal, have trouble eating or drinking or are overly dehydrated and not producing urine, Dominguez said. Vora suggested that as a general rule,"if your kiddo is not acting right, seems to have symptoms that are worse than just an average cold or lasting longer than a couple of days, then it’s worth having them checked out." It is important for kids with strep to get care right away so they can start taking antibiotics like penicillin. After 24 hours on antibiotics, a patient usually stops being contagious. “The sooner you get someone on antibiotics appropriately, the quicker they’ll recover,” Dominguez said.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blackhawks lose to Capitals, have now scored just four goals during four-game slideJonathan Toews, Max Domi and Tyler Johnson scored for the Blackhawks, and Mrazek finished with 23 saves.
Read more »
DeSantis targets Covid vaccine manufacturers and CDC in latest anti-vaccine moves | CNN PoliticsFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday asked his state's Supreme Court to green-light an investigation of 'any and all wrongdoing in Florida with respect to Covid-19 vaccines,' his latest move to cast doubt on the vaccines' effectiveness and amplify fears about side effects.
Read more »
More than 3,500 Americans have died from long COVID during pandemic: CDCThe report, published by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, looked at death certificate data from January 2020 through the end of June 2022.
Read more »
Long COVID can be deadly, CDC report warnsLong COVID was cited in the death certificates of at least 3,544 people in the U.S. in the first 2.5 years of the pandemic, according to a CDC study published today
Read more »
Long COVID to blame for more than 3,500 deaths so far, CDC reportsAt least 3,544 death certificates previously tallied by the CDC as COVID-19 fatalities were actually related to long COVID, the ongoing symptoms that some people struggle with for weeks, months or even years after their initial recovery.
Read more »
Long covid can be deadly, CDC study findsMore than 3,500 Americans have died from long-covid-related illness in the first 2½ years of the pandemic, according to the CDC. Experts say the deaths reinforce the danger of ignoring lingering symptoms that many say their physicians have dismissed.
Read more »