“My daughter Luana, 2 years and 2 months old, was a victim of Streptococcus pyogenes. She was hospitalized in a coma, in intensive care, with the worst possible prognosis. But she miraculously recovered and is back again Opened my eyes.”
Mabel Vargas, a Venezuelan doctor living in Argentina, told Infobae through this crude story the raw experience she went through 11 days ago, when her only young daughter decompensated and ended up seriously hospitalized.
Vargas’ testimony comes amid an outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes in Argentina, with the country’s health ministry announcing last night that it had updated public information after 13 weeks on the true incidence of the bacteria, which can become more common if not treated properly. Get a dangerous diagnosis and treat with antibiotics.
National health authorities report through official epidemiological statements that 487 cases and 78 deaths have been recorded so far in 2023.
“The current situation, as of November 6, 2023, the National Health Surveillance System has reported a total of 487 cases of Streptococcus pyogenes invasive infection, including 78 deaths. Nearly half of the Streptococcus pyogenes cases are under the age of 16” (241 cases = 49.5%), while 38.5% of the fatal cases were children under 16 years old, and the remaining cases were distributed among all age groups,” the official report said.
Luana is about to add to its minor death toll. “She started experiencing symptoms of fever, weakness and vomiting on the afternoon of Thursday, October 26. On Friday, she turned blue and we took her to Rodriguez General Hospital where they intubated her and put her into a coma . She suffered from general health complications so severe that her life was in danger, so much so that as time went on the doctors told us at one point there was nothing they could do and invited us to say goodbye to her sedated. But a miracle Miraculously, she began to recover. It was a miracle from God,” Vargas said.
Although doctors managed to save the two-year-old girl’s life, they told the family in the final hours that they would have to amputate one of her legs due to widespread infection. This is what the girl’s mother said.
“They couldn’t save her leg and had to do a below-the-knee amputation. That’s not a problem for me today because I think about them telling me there was no hope for her to live. I’m afraid we know we can.” Coping with this amputation with the love of my family. Keeping her alive was the most important thing. Opening her eyes again changed the whole situation. ” said Vargas, who was alone with her daughter at the time and hospitalized. Her husband in Venezuela arrived three days later.
“This pathology causes necrosis in various parts of the body from organs to limbs. Fortunately, only one leg required amputation. She had necrosis in her abdomen, heart and liver failure, and was bleeding.” The mother added, “I suffer from multiple organ failure” and now her daughter is admitted to Southern Hospital.
The key to early diagnosis
Vargas, the occupational doctor, reported that two or three weeks before the crisis, the little girl suffered from tonsillitis, which lasted no more than three days. “It is very important that at the first symptoms, parents consult their pediatrician and have him or her send their child for a swab to see if it is viral or bacterial and what disease they have. This bacterial disease The disease can be prevented with: swabs and, if confirmed, antibiotics,” said the professional and mother of little Luana.
Additionally, he warned against overuse of antibiotics. “Antibiotics should not be given without an accurate diagnosis because if a person has a viral infection, antibiotics will not do anything. But when the bacteria are present, it can enhance the effects of the bacteria.”
Group A Streptococcus can cause different infections, with pharyngitis being the most common. But they can also be cutaneous, such as impetigo, cellulitis, and scarlet fever. In some cases, it can manifest in severe forms or invasive disease that can lead to life-threatening conditions. This can be seen in the figures of more than 500,000 deaths worldwide each year.
Transmission of Streptococcus pyogenes occurs through close contact with an infected person and can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or contact with a wound. People may be asymptomatic carriers.
The incubation period of the disease varies from 1 to 3 days depending on the clinical manifestations. Infected people must remain in isolation until the infectious period is over.
Source: Infobae