Cases of invasive group A strep infections are on the rise across the country—including in this province.

Dr. Natalie Bridger, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist with NL Health Services, says a memo was recently sent out by the Department of Health about an uptick in invasive strep cases.

Bridger says the strep infection is most common among children ages 5 to 15 years, and is the culprit behind 30 per cent of sore throats affecting kids.

She says in most cases, the infection only impacts the throat, and symptoms will resolve on their own. However, Dr. Bridger recommends antibiotic treatment for strep throat to avoid future complications. In rare cases, strep is invasive and can be serious—or even fatal.

When the bacteria creeps into the bloodstream, lungs, and skin soft tissue, that’s when strep becomes a bigger problem and can make both kids and adults very sick.

Bridger says the invasive strep will often enter the body through the skin—rather than the mouth or nose.

She says often times, someone has no idea how the infection entered their body, but common entry points are usually small cuts, scabs, and burns to the skin.