With a 30% death rate, health officials are rushing to determine the source of the spike in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
Experts caution that while officials are having difficulty determining the source, an uncommon but severe bacterial infection is spreading at a record rate throughout Japan.
As more highly virulent and infectious strains of group A streptococcal disease were confirmed in Japan, there is growing concern that the most severe and potentially fatal form of the disease, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), will continue to spread. In 2024, the number of cases is predicted to surpass the record numbers from the previous year.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) said: “There are still many unknown factors regarding the mechanisms behind fulminant (severe and sudden) forms of streptococcus, and we are not at the stage where we can explain them.”
According to preliminary data from the NIID, 941 cases of STSS were documented in the previous year. With 378 cases reported in the first two months of 2024, infections have been found in forty-seven of Japan’s prefectures.
According to NIID, patients under 50 are dying more frequently from the group A strain, even though older persons are thought to be at higher risk. About a third, or 21, of the 65 individuals under 50 who received an STSS diagnosis between July and December of 2023 passed away, according to a report in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
Streptococcus pyogenes is the bacterium responsible for the majority of STSS cases. Known more widely as “strep A,” it is a common condition that many people have without realizing it and do not get sick from. It can cause sore throats, especially in youngsters.
However, the infection’s highly contagious bacteria can occasionally result in fatalities, life-threatening infections, and other health issues, especially in persons over 30. The death rate from STSS is about 30%.
Cold-like symptoms are common in older adults, but in rare instances, they can intensify and result in meningitis, tonsillitis, strep throat, and pneumonia. In the worst situations, necrosis and organ failure may result.
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