Dad says Strep A ‘devastated’ his little girl – GPs on alert after 7 kids die

PARENTS have been urged to watch out for viral signs of potentially deadly Strep A in children, which is sweeping the country.

This comes as the dad a four-year-old girl who is fighting for her life after contracting the bug has told of his pain after seven other kids died with the infection.

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Dean Burns told Sky News has said he’s been “living in a absolute nightmare” since Camilla got sick.

He said: “When we got [to the hospital] on Monday, they said she’s the poorliest girl in the whole of England.”

The dad, who described the pain his family is feeling as “the worst in the world”, is now urging parents to look out for the signs and act quickly.

He said: “When I look back it still just seemed like a sickness bug, she was really lethargic at times, but her health was improving until she completely changed.

Cases of the bug, which often masks as flu or the common-cold in the early stages, are usually high for this time of year.

Strep A bacteria can cause many health issues, most of which are mild. They can include scarlet fever, tonsillitis and, very rarely, invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS).

Two of the most severe examples of invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis – a very rare but life-threatening infection also called ‘flesh-eating disease’ – and toxic shock syndrome.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Dr Susan Hopkins, of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said GPs and parents should be on the look-out for a sore throat which doesn’t ease with painkillers.

“If painkillers don’t work to reduce pain or bring down a high fever then that’s a concern,” the expert explained.

“Secondly, if a child has a pink rash which feels like sand paper then that’s also concerning,” she added.

She urged parents who believe their child could have the bacterial bug to look at their child’s tongue.

“In [cases of] scarlet fever we often see strawberry tongue, where there is a bit of a white coating on the tongue which is a bit red,” she explained.

“We also get concerned when children are more sleepy, their hands and feet are blue, they’re not eating and are dehydrated.”

Dr Susan said parents should contact NHS 111 or their GP if their child displays any of these symptoms.  

The pandemic lockdown is being blamed for the outbreak because children were shuttered away – creating a lower immunity to infections.

The Sun on Sunday’s Dr Jeff Foster said Strep A is one of the most common bugs doctors see in kids every year, but that it is currently surging.

He said: “It is commonly found in children under ten and is spread by droplets and close contact — through spit, sneezing, coughing and touching infected surfaces. It’s the same way you would get a common cold.

“This year’s is not a new variant. It’s the post-Covid effect as kids were not exposed to bugs for two years.”

There were 851 cases of Strep A reported in the week ending November 20 — up from the 186 cases expected.