Strep A tests sell out as parents rush to to buy at-home kits – here’s the signs of deadly illness
TESTS for Strep A have largely sold out online after thousands of worried parents stripped the shelves.
None of the at-home kits are currently available on Amazon, eBay or on a number of online pharmacies as of Tuesday evening.
At=home tests for Strep A have largely sold out online after thousands of worried parents stripped the shelves[/caption] Seven-year-old Hanna Roap’s condition began with just a mild cough – she died within 24-hours[/caption]Despite this, The Sun has seen multipack Strep A tests available on some websites – with a 50 pack on sale for an eye watering £270.
The kits are similar to PCR Covid tests, involving a long cotton bud that swabs the back of the throat.
The sample is then dipped into a solution and a strip test displays the result of the disease which has now killed nine kids in the UK.
Walk-in Strep A tests are available from your local pharmacy.
The shortage comes as The Sun revealed Britain is facing a critical shortage of penicillin and amoxicillin antibiotics, used to treat the disease.
Parents have reported difficulty in getting hold of the over-the-counter medicine as pharmacies faced relentless demand.
But ministers – despite supply issues, costs and a shortage of ingredients for the medicines – are considering a rollout in schools.
Group A Streptococcal (iGAs) disease is a bacteria sometimes found in the throat on the skin.
It is incredibly rare but can cause life threatening illness and can be contagious.
There are a number standout symptoms you should look out for and parents are being warned of tell-tale signs which may appear.
Most who contract the disease remain symptom free, but those that don’t can develop throat and skin infections.
Scarlet fever, which presents as a high temperature, sore throat, rash and swollen neck glands, is also a symptom.
A nasty sunburn-type rash that feels like sandpaper is also a stand out symptom.
Almost all the kids who have died were primary school age.
They include Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Bucks and a youngster at a primary school in Waterlooville, Hampshire.
Seven-year-old Hanna Roap’s condition began with just a mild cough but she rapidly deteriorated and tragically died within 24-hours.
The lockdown is being blamed for the outbreak because children were shuttered away — creating a lower immunity to infections.
The four signs of Strep A you 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
STREP A ADVICE
Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:
- Your child is getting worse.
- Your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
- Your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
- Your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher.
- Your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty.
- Your child is very tired or irritable.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- Your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
- There are pauses when your child breathes
- Your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
- Your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
Source: NHS