Antibiotics are to be handed out to close contacts of children with Strep A who are deemed vulnerable.

New guidance has been issued which means over-75s, pregnant women and new mums will all be given drugs even if they have no symptoms.

A course of treatment lasting no more than 10 days will begin within 24 hours of the Strep A case being confirmed.

Cases of the bacterial infection have soared, leaving 16 children dead and more seriously ill in hospital.

It comes after it emerged prescriptions for antibiotics have increased five-fold amid the Strep A outbreak.

Health experts say there is still ‘plenty’ of penicillin left in the system but said some drugs may need to be put on a ‘shortage protocol’.

That would allow pharmacists to give worried parents alternatives instead of forcing them to try various pharmacies or return to the GP to ask for a new prescription.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is doing a ‘deep dive’ investigation into what is behind fatal cases.

Which vulnerable groups automatically qualify for antibiotics?

• Pregnant women from ≥37 weeks gestation
• Newborn babies and women within the first 28 days of delivery regardless of whether either has a confirmed case themselves
• Household contacts over 75
• People with chickenpox who have ‘active lesions’ within seven days prior to contact or sooner if the exposure is ongoing

Early data suggesting some children who have fallen gravely ill with Strep A may have had another respiratory virus at the same time has prompted a renewed push on getting the flu vaccine out.

Speaking about recent deaths at a seminar hosted by the Royal Society of Medicine, professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, said: ‘We do know that, for example, that about a third of the invasive cases have added another respiratory virus detected at the same time.

‘So that gives us a clue that perhaps the co-infection with respiratory viruses means the bacteria are more likely to go into the lungs … but really that’s speculation at the moment.’

Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, senior clinical lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases at Imperial College London, said there could be localised shortages of antibiotics but it would only be temporary.

She continued: ‘We went into this having plenty of antibiotics. I’ve been told in the last few days that we’re using five times more penicillin than we were using three weeks ago.

‘And clearly our supplies and stocks won’t last that long if we keep using that volume.

‘We always have a few weeks of stock and in reserve but not months and so getting more stock out is critical.

‘And of course anywhere there’s high supply and demand – you’ll know this from your toilet rolls in your local supermarkets at times in the past – that it may run out of stock, but there’s more in the warehouses.’

Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, said: ‘There is an abundance of antibiotics that one can use in addition to treat this particular infection.

‘So there’s absolutely zero risk that seriously ill children will be in a position where they can’t be treated. That’s just not going to happen.’

The health experts also warned parents to be on the lookout for symptoms and to go back to see a doctor if their child’s condition deteriorates rapidly after a first visit.

It’s believed lower immunity due to lockdowns and more social contact among children is to blame for the increase in cases, not a new strain.

Your questions about Strep A answered

How do I test my child for Strep A?

Dr Nicole Robb, professor at Oxford and Warwick Universities and co-founder of health-technology firm Pictura Bio, told Metro.co.uk at the moment the only way to get tested is through a health practitioner or a GP.

‘We are all familiar with the rapid antigen tests through Covid, but you cannot just get these at a pharmacy,’ she said.

‘You do need to see a doctor to get those. Again, similarly to Covid, you can have a swab taken from your throat, which will take a day or two to get back.

‘What is lacking is any form of community or at-home testing. One of the things we saw during the pandemic is how fantastic it is to have access to lateral flow tests.

‘If you suspect your child has an illness, you can test them and have an answer in 20 minutes. But we don’t have that. We need to bring these technologies forward, like during Covid.’

What about at-home test kits?

At-home test kits for Strep A are available to be purchased online for as little as £8.99, but they are mostly sold out.

With the high rise in cases, Dr Robb has urged people to seek advice from the NHS rather than trying to self-diagnose.

‘A doctor will be able to use a variety of tests to confirm their diagnosis and will also be able to promptly prescribe antibiotics if needed,’ she said.

‘Early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of more severe complications.’

When should parents seek medical advice?

Knowing the symptoms of scarlet fever is the most important thing for parents, especially those with young children.

Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has developed it.

And call 999 or go to A&E if your child is having difficulty breathing, your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue, or you child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake. 

Who is most vulnerable?

Strep A is more likely to occur in children than in adults, particularly amongst those that attend go to school or nurseries.

Dr Robb stressed that being together in a confined space may aid transmission.

She said children may also be more susceptible following illness with a viral infection, such as chickenpox.

As a parent, should I be worried? What should I be doing?

UKHSA confirmed that, currently, there is no evidence a new strain is circulating.

When asked if children need to be isolated at home during the outbreak, Dr Robb said the country is ‘nowhere near that stage yet’, urging people not to panic.

‘Do not keep your child at home if they are healthy,’ she added. ‘Just exercise caution and common sense.

‘Know what the symptoms are and what to look out for, but don’t panic unnecessarily.’

Downing Street has also urged parents to be on the lookout but stressed the NHS is ‘well prepared’ for such situations. 

Why is it becoming more of an issue this year?

Dr Robb said: ‘We are seeing higher levels of Scarlet fever than normal. That could be for lots of different reasons.

‘It could be because of the arrival of the colder winter weather, and people spend more time mixing indoors and that increases transmission.

‘During the last three years of Covid, people have been restricted mostly inside and wearing masks.

‘That not only stopped Covid from spreading but also other common respiratory illnesses like Strep A. If the bugs are not spreading as normal, that just means our immunity as a population has gone down.’

Is there a shortage of antibiotics?

A Downing Street spokesman said it is not aware of any current shortage of the antibiotic amoxicillin. 

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