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On a quest to stamp out Strep A

A sore throat is one of the most common reasons for patients, particularly children, to visit their GP. In a large number of these cases, the sore throat is caused by Strep A bacteria which can lead to severe diseases, if left untreated.

In fact, Strep A infections are a major cause of illness and death throughout the world each year. Illawarra Medical Centre has recently partnered with the Australian Strep A Vaccine Initiative (ASAVI) to help researchers learn more about what causes sore throats and how a vaccine may be developed to help prevent Strep A in the future.

What is Strep A?

Streptococcus A, or Strep A for short, is a bacteria also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacteria is often responsible for mild infections, such as pharyngitis (better known as sore throat or strep throat), scarlet fever, and impetigo (commonly known as skin sores).

Strep A infections are highly contagious and are usually passed directly from person to person through talking, coughing or sneezing. It is very common in school-age children, with one in 10 children having the bacteria in their throats at any one time.

When left untreated, Strep A can lead to severe diseases which can cause heart and kidney failure. One of the most severe diseases to result from Strep A is rheumatic heart disease, which involves damage to one or more of the four small heart valves and can often require heart surgery in more severe cases.

Strep A can become life threatening very quickly if the bacteria invades the body’s blood stream, muscles or lungs. This video from the Telethon Kids Institute shows just how quickly that can occur>>

What are the symptoms of Strep A?

The common symptoms of a Strep A infection include:

  • sore, red throat and tonsils;
  • pain when swallowing;
  • fever;
  • chills;
  • headache;
  • muscle aches and pains;
  • feeling tired;
  • swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck; and
  • loss of appetite.

Preventing Strep A

The best way to help prevent the spread of Strep A is to continue the good hygiene practices that we’ve all become accustomed to during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

  • Avoid close contact with other people until you feel well.
  • Use tissues when you cough and dispose of them carefully and straight away.
  • Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, especially after you cough and before touching food, dishes, glasses, eating utensils etc.
  • Do not share food, drinking cups, eating utensils or hand towels with others.
  • Do not prepare food for others if you are unwell.
  • Do not go to day care, school or work until you are no longer contagious.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine currently available to help prevent Strep A. However, the Australia Strep A Vaccine Initiative (ASAVI), led by researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), is currently looking at sore throats in children, as an important first step towards a vaccine for Strep A.

About the ASAVI Sore Throat Study

The ASAVI Sore Throat Study is open to children aged 3-14 years old and will help researcher learn more about:

  • how many children get sore throats;
  • what is the most common cause of sore throat in children;
  • how sore throats can change during the different seasons of the year; and
  • how a vaccine could be used to prevent sore throats caused by Strep A bacteria.

Children taking part in the study will have their health monitored for 12 months. The study uses cutting edge technology to diagnose sore throats. This means that a child’s sore throat can be diagnosed within minutes of a visit to their local GP, so that the best possible treatment can be provided.

Illawarra Medical Centre is one of the general practices participating in this important study, which is currently looking for participants.

If you and your child would like to take part, please speak with one of our GPs or contact ASAVI on 0422 581 816 or email sorethroatstudy@telethonkids.org.au. To find out more visit the ASAVI website>>

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