New wave of scarlet fever in Germany: RKI reports steep increase in streptococci

Created: 01/13/2023 17:54

By: Victoria Krumbeck

The Robert Koch Institute notes an unusual increase in streptococcal infections.

The bacterium can cause the childhood disease scarlet fever.

Munich – Whether Corona, flu or a simple cold: many people are sick, especially in the cold winter months.

Children are not spared either.

After the RSV infection wave had brought many clinics to their limits, a new wave of children's diseases could roll over to Germany.

In its epidemiological report of January 5, 2023, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) describes an unusual increase in streptococcal infections.

The bacterium can cause the childhood disease scarlet fever.

RKI notes increase in streptococcal infections in Germany

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported as early as December 2022 that they were noticing an increase in the sometimes severe to fatal course of streptococcal infections.

In the UK alone, 15 children under the age of 15 died between September and December.

Only limited data is available to the RKI, as infection with group A streptococci is not notifiable in Germany under the Infection Protection Act (IfSG).

Nevertheless, the RKI, with the sources they can use, sees that in the fourth quarter of 2022 there was an “unusually steep increase in invasive and non-invasive group A streptococci evidence from medical practices and hospitals for the time of year”.

The increase can be observed in all age groups, as the RKI continues in its report.

The total number of pathogen detections for 2022 is still below the level of the pre-pandemic years 2017 to 2019.

A mother checks her daughter's temperature with a clinical thermometer.

© Patrick Pleul/dpa

However, this may also be due to the increased infection control measures due to the corona virus.

"In Germany [are] currently not observed disproportionately more frequently severe courses," the report continues.

The early increase in the group A streptococcal infection season could also be due to the current wave of the disease.

The widespread respiratory viruses favor the risk of bacterial infections such as streptococci, explains the RKI.

Streptococcal infections are increasing - scarlet fever in children is possible

The bacterium can lead to various diseases, such as middle ear, throat, sinus, or tonsillitis.

Group A streptococci are particularly well known for causing scarlet fever in children.

Scarlet fever usually causes a sore throat and a rash that can spread to the whole body.

In addition, headaches, sore throats, difficulty swallowing, chills and rapidly increasing fever can occur.

Scarlet fever is extremely contagious and can be transmitted from person to person.

But not only children are at risk, everyone can get scarlet fever, as the Federal Center for Health Education informs.

The pathogens get into the air via saliva droplets, so that they can attach themselves to the mucous membranes of another person.

Contamination is also possible through contaminated objects.

Scarlet fever is usually treated with antibiotics, there is no vaccine.

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Good to know: If parents have to look after their sick children and are therefore unable to go to work, they are entitled to child sickness benefits.