The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is alerting residents to the increase in strep cases in 2023. According to IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra, there have been more cases of Group A strep reported in the first quarter of 2023 than in any of the previous five years.
Vohra expressed concern about the growing number of invasive Group A strep cases that have resulted in severe complications as the disease spreads from the throat to the blood, muscles, and lungs. While COVID-19 cases and community levels have remained stable, Vohra urges parents to seek medical attention if their children display symptoms such as sudden sore throat, painful swallowing, and fever.
“Early detection is critical as strep can be diagnosed with a simple test and treated with antibiotics,” Vohra advised. He also encourages everyone in households to be up-to-date with flu and chickenpox vaccines as contracting either illness can increase the risk of invasive Group A strep.
For more information about invasive Group A strep, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides valuable resources.
