Thread by @NjbBari3

Case study of one family caught in the Strep outbreak on #PlagueIsland.

TL;DR

Asymptomatic carriage in kids.

Antibiotic shortage.

Adults symptomatic.

I have obtained permission to share these details. They are my extended family.

Case 1 ex prem. Started school this year. Fever. Malaise. No sore throat.

Focus of fever found by accident.

Case 2 otherwise healthy child, also started school this year but in the year above.

No fever, no sore throat, purulent tonsils found by GP on examination due to being a contact of case 1.

Case 3. Mum. Aching all over, feeling feverish, diarrhoea, no sore throat, some headaches. Not treated as yet. Still up and about looking after sick kids.

Case 4. Dad. Has been in bed for a couple of days feeling very unwell. Sore throat and “chills”(likely fever). GP said no need for antibiotics but deteriorating.

Forgot. Important detail. Case 3 has had a tonsillectomy in the past. Probably explains systemic infection without sore throat.

COVID tests have been ordered (for home delivery) but not arrived yet.

When I asked about antibiotics, the local chemist at the supermarket had run out.

No one in this cluster has had a rash (yet).

So, to summarise, there is a Strep bacterial outbreak. It’s likely it can be carried and spread asymptomatically. Could have atypical presentations. Can be serious.

Treatment shortage may be present.

Co-infection with COVID? A possibility.

Family believe Case 1 brought this latest plague home from school.

What a let down.

Considering strep is carried in the throat, I fully expect masks to help slow transmission together with hand hygiene.

Any reason why masks in schools have not been recommended to help slow strep outbreak? @UKHSA