Group A strep: when to call 999

Dr. Francis Andrews explains when you should contact 999 for an ambulance or attending your Emergency Department.

The key things to look out for:

- your child is having difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises, or you may notice their tummy sucking under their ribs
- there are pauses when your child breathes
- your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

Remember to trust your instincts as a parent - if you think your child needs medical help, do not hesitate to seek this.

Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics.

But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS).

Francis is Bolton NHS Foundation Trust's medical director.