After warnings about the spread of the potentially fatal Group A Strep infection - which has seen several children in the UK die in recent weeks - the UK Health Security Agency has revealed how many cases of scarlet fever and Strep A there are across the North East.

Though most people who catch it will suffer from minor illness, Group A Strep bacteria can cause scarlet fever or get into the bloodstream and cause a condition known as Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) in rare cases.

Scarlet fever is "usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious", according to the UKHSA. While, regarding IGAS, the agency added: "These infections are caused by the bacteria getting into parts of the body where it is not normally found, such as the lungs or bloodstream.

"In rare cases an iGAS infection can be fatal."

Read more: Darlington man waited 2.5 hours for an ambulance after bike crash

Like in the rest of the country, the UK Health Security Agency is reporting increases in both conditions in the North East.

Advice for worried parents from the UKHSA includes to especially vigilant for symptoms in their child.

The guidance highlights these include "a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel".

The UKHSA added: "On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.

"Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection. If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others."

Nationally, in the week ending December 4, there were 1131 cases of scarlet fever.

A week earlier there were 991 and the week before that 950.

In the North East, there were 59 scarlet fever cases in the seven days to December 4 and 34 the week before that.

The area with the most over the last two weeks is County Durham (28), with 16 in Redcar and Cleveland, 13 in Middlesbrough and 12 in Northumberland.

There have been cases in Newcastle (8), Gateshead (2), North Tyneside (5), Sunderland (4), Hartlepool (2), Darlington (1) and Stockton-on-Tees (2).

In the same fortnight period, there has been just one case of IGAS in the region.

However, it has been recorded around the country with 18 cases nationwide.

ealth authorities have contacted schools and childcare providers with information on Strep A infections, including scarlet fever and other winter viruses.

The Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth and health authorities have stressed that while it is a worrying time for parents, most children who get ill from a Strep A infection will have a mild illness which can be treated with antibiotics.

The advice stresses that if a child is seriously unwell, particularly if they are getting worse, professional medical advice should be sought.

“As a parent, if you feel that your child is seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement,” the HSE advice states.

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here