Strep A symptoms: What is it and what are the signs?

Queensland has recorded close to double the four-year average for the potentially deadly Strep A infection, with medical experts warning parents to be aware of the symptoms and what to do if they manifest.

A doctor inspects a child’s throat in this stock image photo. Picture: Supplied

Queenslanders are being warned to know the symptoms associated with the potentially deadly Group A Streptococcus, as the state records nearly 100 cases since the beginning of 2023.

There have been 91 cases of Group A Streptococcal in Queensland since January 1, roughly double the four-year average for the same time period between 2018-22.

Nine people died after contracting the illness in 2022.

Last month, two-year old Nicole Williams died from a heart attack and sepsis, as a result of contracting Strep A.

Paul and Olga Williams took their daughter to a general practitioner (GP) when she had a slight temperature on February 21, but was sent home after being given Nurofen and Panadol.

Source: Queensland Health

By the next day, Nicole’s condition worsened and she died after going into cardiac arrest at Queensland Children’s Hospital.

“She suffered a cardiac arrest at that point and was in CPR for 41 minutes before the surgeon hooked up the ECMO machine,” Mr Williams said.

“Treatment continued until Nicole’s death on Saturday February 25, from septic shock and strep A.”

According to national health advice service Healthdirect Australia, Group A Streptococcus is diagnosed by using a throat swab.

“Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your throat. They may rub a cotton swab against a tonsil in the back of your throat to get a sample of bacteria,” the website read.

Nicole Williams died in February after contracting Strep A. Picture: Supplied

But Dr Sonu Haikerwal – who was not the GP who examined Nicole Williams – said it was not realistic to order a swab to test for Strep A every time a patient had a throat infection – because of the “high frequency” of such illnesses.

“We can’t do a swab test for every throat infection we see because throat infections are very common, but in general practice what we do is we always safety net,” she said.

Instead, Dr Haikerwal who practises in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, asks patients to monitor their symptoms closely and if symptoms worsen, to return to their GP.

“So we tell patients, if symptoms don’t resolve or you start to see pus on your throat or it gets increasingly worse than you need antibiotics or a review,” she said.

“So we sometimes give a delayed script for antibiotics, (because) we don’t want to (create) antibiotic resistance, but at the same time, we don’t want to miss these cases.

“But like in medicine, there will always be exceptions to that rule, and there will always be the few that get missed but generally speaking, we safety net.”

Most cases of strep A are mild, but can become deadly in certain circumstances, according to Dr Haikerwal.

“Strep is a bacteria that can cause throat infection, but the unique thing about strep A is that it can cause some serious infections as well,” she said.

“So most infections are mild, but it can cause throat infections, cellulitis, scarlet fever, and it can affect the kidneys as well.”

To reduce the spread of bacteria, health authorities say it is important for people to wash their hands, especially after coughing and sneezing and before preparing, eating or serving food.

Experts also warn that people with “strep throat” should stay at home for at least 24 hours after starting a course of antibiotics.

Originally published as Strep A symptoms: What is it and what are the signs?