The most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis in school-aged children is Group A Streptococcus, which is circulating in the upcoming period until the beginning of spring. The Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), as part of its efforts to address the increase in cases of invasive streptococcal infection, has issued an update with the latest data.
Since the beginning of the year 2023 until today, there have been 94 cases of invasive Group A Streptococcus infection in both children and adults, reported to ECDC. Among these cases, there have been 23 deaths, eleven of which were in children under the age of ten. Recently, two cases of invasive disease caused by Group A Streptococcus resulted in fatalities, one of which occurred in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
Some European countries have recorded an increase in the number of cases of invasive Group A Streptococcus infection, particularly in children under the age of ten, within the year 2023. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed that the risk to the general population is low, given that the increase in cases is relatively small. Due to the increase in cases internationally, ECDC has instructed health services of our country to report all GAS cases.
According to ECDC, Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus is the most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis in school-aged children. In rare cases, while it may initially present with nonspecific symptoms (fever, general fatigue, loss of appetite), it can later cause severe and life-threatening invasive infection. The frequency of pharyngitis usually peaks during the winter months and early spring, and clusters of cases are often reported in nurseries and schools.
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Laboratory testing is performed using rapid detection of the pyogenic streptococcus antigen in the throat (strep test), which should be taken by a healthcare professional. Children with viral infections such as influenza are at higher risk of developing streptococcus infection.
Early recognition of the infection and immediate initiation of antimicrobial and supportive therapy for affected children are extremely important for a favorable outcome of the disease. Additionally, close contacts of cases in the household and school environment should be identified, their condition assessed, and managed according to guidelines, including the administration of prophylactic antimicrobial treatment where appropriate.
Comprehensive and successful management of cases requires raising awareness among the population, vigilance among healthcare professionals, as well as involvement of relevant stakeholders.
