Health experts advise doctors to watch out for a specific type of invasive strep infection in youngsters that can lead to so-called “flesh-eating” disease and organ failure.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an advisory just before Christmas regarding the recent rise in pediatric invasive Group A streptococcal infections, or iGAS.
It’s too soon to say for sure whether the rise in these diseases is typical of the time leading to a pandemic. However, the number of iGAS cases in kids this season is higher than it was during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. In any event, there haven’t been many iGAS infections nationwide.
However, a reported increase in kid iGAS infections at a Colorado hospital has been the subject of an investigation by federal regulators, and similar increases have since been noted worldwide.
These bacterial infections can lead to potentially serious illnesses including sepsis, a severe and occasionally fatal physiological reaction to an infection, necrotizing fasciitis, toxic shock syndrome, and “flesh-eating bacteria,” which are frequently referred to as. Cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that can cause painful swelling, is another serious consequence.
Local doctors have been requested by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to record cases of Group A Streptococcus as soon as possible, including those involving necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
