Strep A cases on the rise among Australian kids, health authorities warn
Cases of a deadly bacterial infection are becoming more common in Queensland, sparking concern from health experts.
Strep A infection rates last year increased by 20 per cent, with 377 cases recorded and nine deaths.
Symptoms can include a sore throat, fever and small red spots at the back of the roof of the mouth.
Infectious diseases expert professor Michael Good told Dan Nolan on 4BC Summer Drive the infection is definitely one to be wary of.
“If it gets into the tissue of, say for example, the arm or the leg, and infects the muscle and the tissue below the skin, well, the symptoms are very, very painful,” he said.
“If it’s in the throat and it gets very bad, you can obviously get high fevers, very sore throat, very swollen lymph glands, you may have difficulty swallowing, you may have difficulty breathing.”
Press PLAY below to hear how you can stop the spread
Image: Getty