Prima Strep A Throat Test

Product Information

Sore throat is characterised by inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis) or inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis). Symptoms of a sore throat include pain in the throat, fever and a headache. Other symptoms could also include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle pain, and rashes. There have been 128 cases in children aged 5 to 9 years compared to 117 across the whole of the 2017 to 2018 season. As with previous seasons, over recent weeks the majority of iGAS cases continue to be in those over 45 years. There are early indications of an increase of iGAS notifications in the older age groups in recent weeks and we will monitor this trend closely. If a child has low muscle tone, it may be harder for them to clear their airways if they catch get a winter infection like flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This in turn can make them more susceptible to Strep A infections. Very rarely, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause more serious illness called invasive group A strep. We know that this is concerning for parents, but I want to stress that while we are seeing an increase in cases in children, this remains very uncommon. There are lots of winter bugs circulating that can make your child feel unwell, that mostly aren’t cause for alarm. However, make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is getting worse after a bout of scarlet fever, a sore throat or respiratory infection – look out for signs such as a fever that won’t go down, dehydration, extreme tiredness and difficulty breathing. There continue to be increased notifications in older adult age groups, and as in previous seasons, the majority of iGAS cases have continued to be among those aged over 45 years, particularly in those aged over 75 years.

Invasive group A streptococcus ( iGAS) infections remain rare. So far this season, there have been 111 iGAS cases in children aged 1 to 4 compared to 194 cases in that age group across the whole year of the last comparably high season* in 2017 to 2018. There have been 74 cases in children aged 5 to 9 years compared to 117 across the whole year of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018. The majority of cases continue to be in those over 15 years. Drink plenty of water. Keeping a sore throat lubricated and moist eases swallowing and helps prevent dehydration. iGAS cases in children aged 18 years and under, compared to 701 in the last update – this is compared to 205 cases in the 2017 to 2018 seasonIf you or your child has a strep A infection, you should stay away from nursery, school or work for 24 hours after you start taking antibiotics. This will help stop the infection spreading to other people. So far this season (from 12 September to 4 December) there have been 6,601 notifications of scarlet fever. This compares to a total of 2,538 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018. CookieYes sets this cookie to record the default button state of the corresponding category and the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. Strep A tests are not available through the NHS in Scotland for self-testing at home. Should you or your child need to be tested for Strep A, your GP or other healthcare professional will advise you. GAS infections

If someone keeps getting a sore throat after taking the right antibiotics, they may be a strep carrier and have a viral throat infection. Talk to a doctor if you think you or your child may be a strep carrier. Serious complications are not common We analyse scarlet fever seasons from week 37 to week 36 the following year. The majority of cases would typically be seen from the beginning of February to April. A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads. The rash makes your skin feel rough, like sandpaper. Not necessarily. NHS advice to all families is the same unless your child’s consultant gives you specific advice.The most common cause of bacterial infection is strep A, accounting for about 80% of bacterial infections. The remaining 20% of bacterial infections are usually caused by group C and G streptococcus. Strep A throat infections are more common in children than adults and the incidence of strep A infections is highest in winter and spring.