Strep A: Five-year-old dies from illness linked to bacterial infection

A five-year-old girl has died from an illness linked to the bacterial infection strep A, BBC News NI understands.

The Black Mountain Primary School pupil became severely ill last week and was treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

On Friday the Public Health Agency (PHA) sent a letter to parents of P1 to P3 children at the school.

It said one of its pupils was diagnosed with a severe form of strep A.

Children were asked to attend a clinic to be seen by a doctor and receive a preventative course of antibiotics.

BBC News NI understands the girl had been treated in intensive care but passed away on Monday.

The PHA is asking parents to be vigilant.

BBC News NI understands the authorities are working closely with those schools that are affected.

Black Mountain Primary is undergoing a deep clean.

Community groups are also being contacted about affected children who may have used their facilities.

Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. But some people who catch it can get very sick.

Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature.

Very rarely, strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly.

Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences.

The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last "high season for iGAS infection" - there were four deaths in England.

Warning signs of invasive disease include:

Urgent, early medical help is essential.

The UKHSA advises that anyone with a high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body and unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea should seek medical help immediately.

A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, deputy chairperson of the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee Dr Frances O'Hagan said.

In these cases children should be taken to A&E as quickly as possible.

"The other thing to be aware of is that the treatment for strep A is an antibiotic called Penicillin V," Dr O'Hagan said.

"Penicillin V does not taste very nice so children will not like it, but it's very important that you get it into your child.

"And it's a 10-day course, so it's really important that you finish the 10 days."

Parents need to be vigilant - that is the message from health officials and local doctors.

While those looking after children may be nervous about this unfolding story, it is important to remember a majority of cases are mild.

The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years, and during the pandemic, children didn't mix and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections.

There is a warning that the number of cases of both strep A and scarlet fever will rise over the coming weeks.

It is highly contagious so the advice from experts is keep sick children at home.

Parents of children who deteriorate quickly should seek urgent medical advice.

As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if:

Call 999 or go to A&E if: