Public Health Information

Important messages from Public Health England:

Antibiotics

Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. That means that antibiotics may not work when you need them next time. This puts you and your family at risk.

Take your Doctor, Nurse and Pharmacists advice on antibiotics.

Group Strep A:

Here's what you need to know about Group Strep A:

Group A Strep (GAS). GAS is a common bacteria which causes a range of infections including scarlet fever. These infections are usually mild.

It can also cause a rare, more serious infection called
Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS).

This occurs when GAS bacteria gets into parts of the where is causes serious disease, like the lungs or bloodstream.

As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP or NHS 111 if:

- your child is getting worse

- your child is feeding or eating much less than normal

- your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration

- your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher

- your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty

- your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

- your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs

- there are pauses when your child breathes

- your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue

- your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

Immunisations

Keeping up to date with routine vaccinations is essential in preventing severe disease against all age groups. Vaccinations help reduce the pressure on the NHS and hospital admissions, so World Immunisation Week is an opportunity to remind people when and how they're available for themselves and their children.