Health Care Providers Should be on the Lookout for Group A Strep in Children

The CDC issued a health alert last week notifying clinicians of a recent rise in invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections in kids. While the overall number of cases has remained relatively low and these infections remain rare in children, the agency is investigating reports coming from Colorado and other states. The uptick in cases has coincided with more respiratory syncytial virus, influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses. There has been a sharper increase of illnesses due to group A strep in Europe and in the U.K., where it’s been showing up as scarlet fever. CDC notes, while also reminding providers there’s a shortage of amoxicillin to treat infections. Read more from CDC here.