Of great concern has been the rapid increase in cases of Streptococcus A infection in the European community. At the same time, child deaths due to this bacterial infection are experiencing a significant rise, causing "alarm" in the health sector.
The shortage of antibiotics for Strep A has prompted many experts to argue that pharmacists should be dispensing alternative drugs, just as the death of a 12-year-old girl in Hove, England, heightens concerns about the nightmare progression of Strep A. The unfortunate girl is the sixteenth confirmed death in the UK from the infection.
Health officials report that the number of deaths is unusually high for this time of year. In particular, more than 650 cases of the aggressive form have been identified in England, of which 170 have been seen in children and have led to 14 deaths. Two further fatalities have been recorded in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Symptoms may include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. Pharmacists have even revealed that many patients asked for medication but left empty-handed as there were no suitable antibiotics matched to their prescriptions. The dispensing problems were blamed on the lack of supply in some pharmacies and hospitals. The prospect of giving pharmacists the power to amend prescriptions could reduce the current pressure.
At the present time, the current regulation states that pharmacists cannot prescribe anything other than what is written on a patient's prescription by their doctor. The NHS England is increasing deliveries of Strep A antibiotics to pharmacies across the country in an attempt to address local shortages.
David Webb, chief pharmacist for the NHS England, urged pharmacies to work together to understand local availability of medicines and order additional stock in line with patient demand. He further noted that ordering "excessive quantities" would put more pressure on the supply chain.
A resident in Plymouth, England, noted that she had to call six local pharmacies to secure a bottle of antibiotics for her 10-year-old daughter, who is suffering from strep A.
This comes as Britain's leading doctors today issued new guidance on the symptoms of Strep A and the steps worried parents should take, after warning that current advice is not clear enough.
The spike in cases and the resulting fears have driven England's National Health Service (NHS) into meltdown, with parents of sick children flooding into GP surgeries.
At the same time, parents should be on the lookout for the early symptoms of scarlet fever - including sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting.
Within 12 to 48 hours, a red sandpaper-like rash develops on the chest and stomach before quickly spreading to other parts of the body. Young people usually also have red cheeks and a blood-red tongue.
Concern about the spread of the infection is spreading to the rest of Europe. In Spain, two people have died from respiratory infections with streptococcus A bacteria.
At the same time, panic is also spreading in France where two children and an adult have died from a cause linked to group A streptococcus, according to France's General Health Directorate.
Source: ertnews.gr
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