Strep A bacteria, which is seen in many European countries around the world, has become a nightmare especially for families with children. Strep A can cause a variety of infections, including scarlet fever. Experts state that early action should be taken against Strep A bacteria. 3-year-old Aras Sönmez died on his birthday due to Strep A bacteria, which started to be seen in Turkey in December. Aras’s family warned everyone about the seriousness of the disease.
MEDICATION WAS GIVEN AND SENT HOME, DISTURBED AGAIN
According to the news in DHA, Aras Sönmez was taken to a private hospital by his family on the suspicion of sore throat and cold on 10 January. Aras Sönmez, who was diagnosed with a cold and sent home with medication, was taken to Etlik City Hospital when he became ill again at night. Aras Sönmez, who was taken to the intensive care unit, could not be saved on January 11 despite all the efforts of the doctors.
‘THEY SAID A COLD’
Speaking to DHA, Aras’ father, Oğuz Buğrahan Sönmez, stated that they first applied to the doctor with the suspicion of a cold, and said, “Our doctor said that his throat was slightly red and that he had a normal cold. He gave the drugs according to him. We continued to use them. That night, too. We did our routines as usual. We watched cartoons, played games. After sleeping, we suspected mumps with the swelling of her lymph nodes. Because she did not have any illness before. Afterwards, when we woke up at around 05:00, we saw that her nose was bruised. We went to Etlik City Hospital with the suspicion of meningitis. ” said.
‘THEY SAID IT WAS STREP A BACTERIA’
Explaining that the doctors at Etlik City Hospital first suspected meningitis and then said ‘it may be bacteria’, Sönmez said, “They started antibiotic treatment through the intravenous route, but they did not know what they were struggling with. They took him to the intensive care unit. They said that he stopped pumping, that he could not get blood pressure and that he had one last chance to survive, that they would connect him to the device and intervene to turn the blood. We gave the necessary signatures. The operation was over, after that they asked us for platelets to clean the blood, we found him. “We received the news of his death. Then they couldn’t tell us the diagnosis. First, they said in the death report ‘natural death due to the rapid spread of an unidentified virus.’ When we buried him the next day, they said it was Strep A bacteria,” he said.
Oğuz Buğrahan Sönmez stated that Aras has a 9-month-old sister and the doctors suspected her, “They said, ‘Let’s give him a preventive vaccine.’ They gave him an antibiotic intravenously. Then they kept him in the hospital for an hour. They checked whether it was contagious or not. Because “They were sleeping in the same room. Nothing happened after that,” he said.
‘COVID-19 MEASURES PREVENTED THE EPIDEMIC’
Microbiologist Dr. Tutku Taşkınoğlu said that Strep A is a type of bacteria known as beta infection among the public. Stating that Strep A infection is not a new infection, it is a bacterial species that has been fought for years, Taşkınoğlu said, “Actually, we have been waiting for this type of bacteria to make an epidemic since 2014. There was a ‘red epidemic’ especially in England in 2018. We were expecting a serious epidemic; but the measures taken due to the Covid-19 pandemic also prevented streptococcal infection from occurring. It prevented it from becoming an epidemic. Unfortunately, when the pandemic measures disappeared, the bacteria found a place for itself and we are now experiencing a serious epidemic, we see Strep A infection. Other upper respiratory tract infections “We are dealing with a bacterium, not a virus. That is why we have a weapon like antibiotics. If it is diagnosed, we are faced with a bacterium that we can easily treat with antibiotics,” he said.
‘DEATH CAN BE SEEN’
Taşkınoğlu pointed out that Strep A will cause an infection when it has the opportunity, and said, “If the bacterium finds more opportunity, it can advance this infection and cause more serious infections. It can infect the lower respiratory tract, the skin, and even progress further and call it ‘flesh-eating bacteria’. Even if it causes a picture in the blood, it causes ‘toxic shock syndrome’. The result of these complications is considered as serious infections that can lead to death. In fact, these infections are seen only 1 in 100 thousand, they are not very common infections, but as the number of cases increases Of course, the risk of complications is also increasing. Therefore, more frequent deaths may occur. A serious epidemic has been expected in the UK since 2014. This epidemic was delayed a little in 2020, they are now experiencing it. Not only in the UK, but also from other countries, such as Canada. “We’re getting news of death,” he said.
STREP A BACTERIA SYMPTOMS
- Throat ache
- Fire
- Having scarlet-like rashes on the skin
- White inflamed appearance in the throat
- enlargement of lymph nodes
- Red dots on the palate
- Weakness, fatigue
- Muscle pains
- Headache
IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR STREP A BACTERIA?
It should be treated within 9 days of the onset of the symptoms of the disease. Antibiotics are not required for any other type of throat infections, but the aim of treatment in Beta is to prevent complications such as heart rheumatism and kidney inflammation. In treatments (in the absence of allergy), a single dose of penicillin can be injected, and oral antibiotics should be used for 10 days, up to 20 doses.
IS STREP A BACTERIA CONTAGIOUS?
Streptococcus group A can be transmitted. For this reason, in order to prevent transmission, situations such as hugging, shaking hands, using a common towel, and using a common spoon with sick people should be avoided. Personal hygiene measures should be taken very seriously. Infectiousness ends 24-48 hours after antibiotic treatment is started. People who do not receive treatment can transmit the infection for up to 2-3 weeks.