Ministry of Health reported 487 confirmed cases to date of invasive infections by Streptococcus pyogenes across the country, with 78 deaths. “On November 6, 2023, National Health Surveillance System (SNVS 2.0) 487 cases of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infection across the country, 78 of which were fatal cases,” reported a statement from the health portfolio.

Nearly half of Streptococcus pyogenes cases occurred in children under 16 years of age (241 cases = 49.5%), while 38.5% of fatal cases occurred in children under 16 years of age.the remaining cases have been distributed among all age groups, the official information added.

Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium which is the most common cause of acute pharyngitis and skin infections such as impetigo, cellulitis, and dengue fever. Although dengue fever is not part of the mandatory notifiable events, an outbreak of any etiology is a notifiable event.

In this context, in October 2023, an outbreak of dengue fever was reported in an educational institution in the province of Santa Fe with 5 associated cases, none of which required hospitalization and all were progressing well, added the Ministry of Health.

At the international level, at the end of 2022 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that at least five Member States in the European region (France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) had reported an increase in the number of cases of invasive disease due to group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) and in some countries there has been an increase in deaths related to this event.

On December 19 of the same year, PAHO reported that in Uruguay there were 21 cases of complications due to the invasive form of the disease caused by group A streptococcus. Regarding its evolution, eight cases died, four adults (69 to 79 years) and four immunocompetent children aged 1 to 7 years.

Group A Streptococcus commonly causes various skin infections such as impetigo, cellulitis, and scarlet fever; However, it can sometimes appear in a severe or invasive form, which can cause life-threatening conditions, and is responsible for more than 500,000 deaths annually worldwide. The reservoir is humans, who are part of the normal microbiota. People can be carriers of the disease without symptoms.

Transmission occurs through direct contact with wounds on infected people or through droplets released when coughing, sneezing or talking. The incubation period for this disease varies according to the clinical picture, between 1 and 3 days. Pharyngitis is diagnosed via bacterial culture and treated with antibiotics. The treatment of choice is penicillin.

Symptoms of pharyngitis are sore throat; fever; headache; stomach ache; nausea and vomiting; redness of the pharynx and tonsils; bad breath; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Regarding dengue fever, the most frequent symptoms are redness and sore throat; fever (38.3°C or higher); red rash with sandpaper texture; dark red skin in the folds of the armpits, elbows and groin; a whitish coating on the tongue or the back of the throat; “raspberry” tongue; headache; nausea or vomiting; inflammation of lymph nodes; pain in the body.

In the presence of some of these symptoms, it is important to avoid self-medication with antibiotics and seek medical consultation to get a timely diagnosis, according to the health portfolio.

In case of receiving a medical indication for antibiotic treatment, it is important to complete the regimen (adhere to the indicated dose and schedule, do not shorten or abandon treatment early), because inappropriate use of antibiotics increases bacterial resistance, a fact that threatens their effectiveness in the future.

Sick people should avoid going to public places (work, school) and limit household contacts. It’s also important to wash your hands frequently; Do not share objects for personal use (cutlery, glasses, towels, etc.) and ventilate the room sufficiently and regularly.