4 B.C. children under 10 dead from invasive strep infections since mid-December, officials say

Four children under age 10 have died in British Columbia from invasive group A streptococcal bacteria since mid-December, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

The centre said in a statement Thursday that the province "continues to experience higher levels" of this type of infection – abbreviated as iGAS – than usual.

"Following a December 2023 bulletin about elevated levels of iGAS infections, updated data from 2023 now show 60 cases reported in people under the age of 20, three times as many infections reported in this age group for 2022," the BCCDC's statement reads.

Two of the four iGAS-related deaths reported Thursday were identified alongside influenza, and have previously been publicized, the BCCDC said. The other two iGAS-related deaths occurred in patients infected with human metapneumovirus, which is another respiratory illness.

Earlier this month, the agency reported that three B.C. children had died of complications linked to influenza since mid-December. 

Asked by CTV News whether the third previously reported flu death was part of the iGAS toll announced Thursday, the BCCDC did not directly answer the question, but reiterated that two of the three flu deaths were iGAS-related.

Thus, it appears that five children under age 10 have died from a combination of respiratory illness and bacterial infection since mid-December, with four of the five having iGAS and the fifth having influenza, but not iGAS.

The BCCDC said in its statement that invasive bacterial infections tend to be more common during the winter months, particularly in association with viral respiratory infections.

Typically, iGAS infections cause mild illness, and deaths associated with them are rare, according to the BCCDC.

"Infections can become more dangerous when the bacteria invade the lungs, blood, or spread along the tissue surrounding a muscle," the agency said. "Sometimes this can happen after a viral respiratory infection."

More severe iGAS infections can cause life-threatening conditions, and present a higher risk to patients at "either end of the age spectrum," the BCCDC said. They're also dangerous to people with chronic illnesses and people who take certain medications, such as steroids.

The BCCDC said parents and caregivers should be aware of several "notable symptoms" that could indicate a severe iGAS infection and require immediate medical attention at a hospital emergency department or an urgent and primary care centre. Those symptoms are:

• A fever for more than five days in a child of any age,
• Fever with either a fine red rash (sandpaper-like texture), full body rash similar to sun burn, and/or red, swollen tongue.
• A fever in a child under three months of age, a child with immune system issues or complex chronic health conditions.
• A child struggling to breathe (e.g. chest appears to sink in just above or below the breastbone with each breath, you may hear grunting or notice the head bobbing with each breath in a young infant).
• Pale skin, whitish or blue lips.
• A child who is very sleepy or having difficulty waking up, or
• A child becoming very sick, very quickly.