A LITTLE boy battled Strep A in hospital after doctors misdiagnosed the killer condition as thrush.
George Higham, 5, was admitted to Grimsby Children’s Hospital, Lincolnshire, in August after his mum, Jenna, noticed something was seriously wrong.
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/treated-grimsby-hospital-strep-august-781293961.jpg?strip=all&w=720&quality=100)
His GP had already diagnosed the George with thrush, but Jenna, 24, was sure he needed hospital treatment and phoned NHS 111.
Thrush is a common yeast infection that can display similar symptoms to Strep A such as white patches found at the back of the mouth.
While at hospital, the young boy was diagnosed with Group A Strep infection, which Jenna from Lincolnshire, said left little George “screaming in agony”, she told the Mirror.
“They couldn’t get a drip in him because he was thrashing about so much, so he was given intramuscular antibiotics,” she said.
Group A Streptococcus — Streptococcus pyogenes — is a bacteria that can cause mild illness.
This can include sore throats and skin infections, alongside tonsillitis, cellulitis, and scarlet fever, which is flu-like and tends to occur in children – it can be serious if not treated swiftly with antibiotics.
In rare cases, the bacteria can trigger invasive Group Strep A disease, which can prove life-threatening and even fatal.
George made a full recovery, but Jenna said: “His screams will always haunt me. I am just so thankful he made it through.
“I was in tears when I heard about the children who didn’t make it. If George had passed away, I can’t think about it, it really upsets me.”
Cases of Strep A have risen across the UK, so too have more serious cases of both scarlet fever and invasive Group A Strep disease.
The outbreak has so far claimed the lives of nine children – most aged under 10 – since September.
Seven-year-old Hanna Roap is among those youngsters who have lost their lives.
What started as a mild cough rapidly deteriorated and she tragically died within 24-hours.
Meanwhile, another dad told how he took his five-year-old Stella-Lily McCorkindale to A&E three times before she died of Strep A.
And another mum has shared photos of her little boy to highlight how fast Strep A strikes after her little one was diagnosed with the illness, as well as scarlet fever and pneumonia.
The signs of Strep A and scarlet fever all parents need to know
There are four key signs of Group Strep A to watch out for, according to the NHS. These are:
- A fever (meaning a high temperature above 38°C)
- Severe muscle aches
- Localised muscle tenderness
- Redness at the site of a wound
The NHS says that when it comes to scarlet fever, your child will most likely start off with cold-like symptoms.
The signs will include:
- high temperature
- sore throat
- swollen neck glands
- rash 12-48 hours after initial symptoms. This usually starts on the tummy and then spreads
- white coating on the tongue
- red cheek
![](https://supereducational.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-1.png)
1 Comment
Leave a ReplyCancel reply
Must See
-
Tips
/ 10 months agoTen reasons for Amsterdam
Amsterdam mainly celebrates April 27th in Orange. The king’s birthday is traditionally celebrated with a...
-
Tips
/ 11 months agoTen travel tips for South Korea
A country between high-tech and tradition. A visit to East Asian South Korea is worthwhile...
-
Tips
/ 11 months agoTen reasons for Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
No other federal state has as much water as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Baltic Sea waves wash...
Pingback: Strep A death toll in kids hits 15 as outbreak surges – the 4 signs all parents must know