The authorities and health experts are extremely concerned due to the increase in cases of Streptococcus Pyogenes, dubbed ‘killer bacteria’which has caused deaths in serious cases of infection by Influenza.
As we explain in The Disappointmentthe killer bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes can cause a wide spectrum of diseases, from acute pharyngitis or skin infections, to serious and life-threatening infections.
In this regard, the Dr. Ricardo Quezada, emergency physician at Clínica MEDS, indicated that “it is a fairly universal bacteria. It is spread by contact and The most common manifestations are sore throat with fever, because it is associated with tonsillitis, and skin lesions.which can range from boils, to impetigo (skin rash) in younger children and to lesions that are sometimes deeper and that can affect the legs or the perineal, genital area.
Deadly mix with Influenza
The deaths that have occurred in the Ñuble Region and the Metropolitan Region have been, according to the authorities, due to this killer bacteria.
“The bacteria does not aggravate the cases. It adds up to a condition that the Influenza produces. We are here facing a perfect storm,” Quezada warned.
“The first thing that happens is that The pediatric population has a kind of immune debt, because the isolation of the pandemic caused them to have little exposure to the usual virusesTherefore, they are more prone to becoming infected with viruses that before, due to exposure, better defenses were developed,” the emergency doctor insisted.
How to prevent problems
In closing, he warned that Streptococcus pyogenes is not immortal. “It is not a particularly dangerous bacteria because it is resistant. In fact, is 100% sensitive to penicillinand it is also treated with amoxicillin, and it responds, but it is very virulent,” he stressed.
That is why self-care is essentialfollowing the same actions that the majority of the population adopted forever after the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Constant hand washing
- Cover your mouth with your forearm when coughing and sneezing
- Wear a mask in crowded areas
- Ventilate closed places for at least 10 minutes
- Go to a healthcare facility when you feel the first symptoms.
