As young people return to education, early years and childcare settings, the organisation has warned that Covid-19, and flu continue to circulate at high levels, with cases predicted to increase throughout January.
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Challenges for the sector in 2023
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Strep A: Guidance for early years providers amid rise in infections
The number of invasive group A streptococcus (GAS) infections is higher than expected for this time of year, particularly in children under 10. Cases of scarlet fever, caused by GAS bacteria, are also increasing.
According to the UKHSA, symptoms of scarlet fever vary according to severity and skin tone, but can include "high fever, difficulty swallowing and tender enlarged lymph nodes".
It adds that: “The rash develops on the first day of fever, it is red, generalised, pinhead in size and gives the skin a sandpaper-like texture and the tongue has a strawberry-like appearance."
The new guidance provides professionals with practical guidance on managing cases of specific infectious diseases, including scarlet fever.
Advice on preventing and controlling infections includes “keeping spaces well ventilated”, and carrying out “effective cleaning and disinfection”.
The UKHSA emphasises the importance of handwashing for early years and pre-school children in particular, and supplementary lesson plans on hand hygiene are available.
It explains: “Pre-school children need to understand why it is important to wash their hands and be taught how to wash, rinse and dry their hands correctly."
Advice for managing outbreaks focuses on adherence to periods away from settings for sick children, supporting immunisation programmes, and reinforcing good hygiene practice.
An exclusion table provides further guidance on the duration for which individuals should stay at home in order to reduce transmission.
The UKHSA advises that pupils with scarlet fever should avoid the returning to the setting until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment. If antibiotics are not administered, individuals are infectious for two to three weeks and should remain away from the setting for the whole period.
The guidance also includes information on the requirement to notify the UKHSA if there is an outbreak of two or more scarlet fever cases in linked individuals within 10 days.
