During 2023 and 2024, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases of invasive group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) in Sweden, previously reported by Lackartidningen. iGAS often has a rapid course and severe symptoms can develop without any previous warning signs. Invasive group A streptococci can, for example, lead to cot fever, sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.

It's hard for state epidemiologist Magnus Gislin to answer why IGAS has increased so much recently, but he says: to SVT The explanation may be that the incidence of streptococcus was very low during the epidemic and the population's immunity became worse. In order to slow down the development, the Public Health Authority came out New supplementary recommendations for sore throatThe recommendations are that healthcare providers should test for group A streptococcus to a greater extent than before and also prescribe penicillin in the event of a positive response.

“We know that with people who have severe infections, there is often someone around them who might have strep throat. And we know that if you give them penicillin, the infection goes down dramatically. “Our hope then is that there will be fewer cases of invasive streptococcus,” says Magnus Gislin. For Swedish Radio.

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An unusually high number of invasive streptococcal cases have been reported in the country.