The National Ministry of Health reported that in 2023, there were 487 confirmed cases nationwide, including 78 deaths due to Streptococcus pyogenes. The news, announced in an epidemiological bulletin published on November 6, said half of those affected were children and adolescents. A total of 16 cases were registered in Chubut province from January to November.
This bacteria can cause mild infections to very serious and fatal illness. Therefore, it causes pharyngitis, which, when accompanied by a rash, becomes “scarlet fever.” Or it can lead to pneumonia, muscle, bone or joint infections.
suggestion
From a health perspective, it is recommended Sick people should avoid public places such as work or school and limit household contacts; wash hands frequently with soap and wateror use a 70% alcohol solution; do not share personal items such as cutlery, glasses, towels; adequately ventilate the environment regularly; and Stay up to date on your vaccination schedule based on age and current recommendations.
Regular and quality supervision
In this sense, Mariela Brito, Provincial Director of Epidemiology and Epidemiology, emphasizes that “the clinical and laboratory surveillance strategy of the Provincial Health Team allows us to obtain timely and high-quality data on compulsory notifiable events. This allows us to formulate control actions “.
Transmission, symptoms and treatment
Streptococcus pyogenes, also called Group A Streptococcus, usually Causes minor illnesses such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, impetigo, cellulitis, and scarlet fever.However, in rare cases, the infection can lead to invasive disease, resulting in It manifests as a blood-borne infection, pneumonia, meningitis, cellulitis or fasciitis, requiring hospitalization.
This bacteria is spread through close contact with an infected person, coughing, sneezing, or contact with a wound. The incubation period of the disease varies from 1 to 3 days depending on the clinical manifestations.
Proper treatment of an infected person with antibiotics for at least 24 hours usually eliminates their ability to spread and makes them no longer contagious. Pharyngitis is diagnosed by bacterial culture and treated with antibiotics. Hand hygiene and personal hygiene help control the spread.
Symptoms of pharyngitis are sore throat; fever; headache; abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting; redness of the throat and tonsils; bad breath; and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
The most common symptoms of scarlet fever are a red, sore throat; a fever of 38.3°C or higher; a red rash with a sandpaper texture; dark red skin in the armpits, elbows, and groin folds; white moss on the tongue or back of the throat; A “raspberry” tongue; headache; nausea or vomiting; inflamed lymph nodes; and body aches.
Of note, when experiencing some of these symptoms, it is important to avoid self-medicating with antibiotics and consult a doctor for prompt diagnosis.
In case of medical indications for antibiotic treatment, it is necessary to complete the treatment regimen, i.e. not to shorten or abandon treatment prematurely, since inappropriate use of antibiotics promotes bacterial resistance and thus weakens their therapeutic effect. future.