Strep A Group virus – guidance for parents
The news of the increased occurrence of Strep A Group virus this year in young children has alarmed many parents.
As a nursery we have access to a wealth of information provided by the NHS and local authority services. We have collated the best of what we have to provide this information guide for parents to help make informed decisions on the care of your child should they show any symptoms.
If in doubt always consult a healthcare professional such as your local pharmacy, NHS 111 or your GP.
Strep A infection guidance for parents and carers
This informative guide from The Early Years Alliance gives some good information and a simple explanation of what to look out for.
UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive Group A strep – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) has released a Press Release (2nd December 2022) on the latest situation.
Streptococcus A (Strep A) | NHS inform
This NHS website has links to lots of information on all of the Strep A group viruses.
Scarlet Fever
An informational post on symptoms and what to look out for.
The first signs of Scarlet fever can be flu-like, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of your neck). A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later.
The rash is often described as bright red, and looks like small, raised bumps starting on the chest and tummy. In people of colour ‘red coloured’ may not be accurate; it may be flesh coloured along with the classic sandpapery appearance. You will always be able to feel the rash.
A white coating also appears on the tongue. This peels leaving the tongue red, swollen and covered in little bumps (called Strawberry tongue). The rash does not appear on the face but the cheeks may be red.
