Infectious disease specialist: Strep A in seniors & monkeypox in children
Posted September 1, 2022 11:19 am.
Last Updated September 1, 2022 6:29 pm.
Four seniors died of Strep A bacteria recently, after two outbreaks at Montreal private seniors residences.
Dr. Matthew Oughton, Infectious Disease Specialist at the Jewish General Hospital says the bacteria is quite contagious and known to be spread in common living situations such as long term care homes and dorms.
“Probably most people have heard of Group A Strep in the context of the famous strep throat. It really is a very common bacteria to cause a whole range of infections in people, children as well as adults. And, it can do anything from fairly minor skin infections through to strep throat. But it can also cause very severe and very invasive infections,” explained Dr. Oughton.
He says it is easy to detect and easy to prevent using the same health guidelines put in place during the pandemic to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“A lot of the measures that most viewers are probably familiar with, especially after the pandemic, distancing, masking, being in isolation, where people are wearing some protective gowns and gloves and so forth. All those measures that are now familiar after COVID-19 are exactly the same measures that need to be done to stop the chain of transmission of Group A Strep,” he added.
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Public health officials have also confirmed a child under the age of five has contracted monkeypox in the Montreal area. Dr. Oughton says people of all ages can contract the virus and very young children have a higher risk of developing severe complications but it is also more rare for them to catch it.
“It’s certainly not anywhere nearly as common to see an infection in a child. During this current outbreak, I think in the States at the present time, there are somewhere around 20 or so confirmed cases of children. Here in Canada that number is a lot less,” he said.
He says there are several viruses among young children that can give a rash so do not immediately assume your child has monkeypox if they develop a rash.
“There are many causes of viral illness that can feature a rash, well-beyond monkeypox, and much more common that we’ll see in children at this time of year. So just because you see a rash, don’t necessarily jump to the idea that it’s monkeypox. But if you’re concerned, then, of course, contact your child’s primary health care provider to get an evaluation.”
Dr. Oughton says if there is someone in the household that has monkeypox then distancing between that person and others is necessary to prevent the spread.
“Monkeypox appears to be transmitted through different mechanisms, but most notably prolonged close contact, such as what can occur in a household setting. If you are a child who is living with someone, an adult who has it, and they’re engaged in the usual things you do in a house, you know, changing clothes, cuddling, giving hugs, bath time, all those things would be a means by which you could transmit from person to person.”
