2 children in the area die from strep. Health officials encourage prompt attention for symptoms
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, strep-thorphritis is increasing in severity and can be fatal.
In the last month, two children from Central Illinois died of the infection.
Brian Curtis, OSF vice president, says that strep is a condition most commonly seen in children under 12 but is not always fatal.
He said it is not common for Group A strep to cause death. It could be strep if you have a fever or a sore throat with swelling glands. It can be easily treated in an ambulatory setting.
IDPH encourages parents to have their children tested for underlying conditions or strep symptoms.
Jamie Harwood, Peoria County Coroner, stated, ” And now it’s a little bit more heightened situation where two very young children unfortunately and sadly lost their lives due to Group A infection.” It’s justified enough to warn people about it and make it known that it exists. It’s not strep, which I don’t want people to believe.”
Harwood advises that you seek medical attention immediately if your child exhibits strep-like symptoms.
He said, “You can take very healthy children and give the strep to them, and they will react differently.” One child may respond exceptionally well to antibiotics, while another might be more sensitive. Both might recover and be very healthy. They could get worse.
