Table. Characteristics of cases with paediatric invasive group A Streptococcus infections, Portugal, 1 September 2022–31 May 2023 (n = 79).
| Characteristics | piGAS cases | |
|---|---|---|
| n | % | |
| Underlying medical condition | ||
| Yesa | 11 | 13.9 |
| No | 68 | 86.1 |
| Infection within 2 weeks before hospital admission b | ||
| Varicella | 17/69 | 24.6 |
| Respiratory infection | 16/65 | 24.6 |
| Presentation | ||
| Rash | 33 | 41.8 |
| Pharyngitis | 28 | 35.4 |
| Vomiting | 17 | 21.5 |
| Diarrhoea | 11 | 13.9 |
| Diagnosis | ||
| Pneumonia | 25 | 31.6 |
| Pneumonia with empyema | 20 | 25.3 |
| Sepsis | 22 | 27.8 |
| Bacteraemia without focus | 19 | 24.1 |
| Bone and joint infection | 17 | 21.5 |
| STSS | 14 | 17.7 |
| Meningitis | 6 | 7.6 |
| Necrotising fasciitis | 1 | 1.3 |
| Complications | ||
| Coagulopathy | 10 | 12.7 |
| Renal failure | 10 | 12.7 |
| Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome | 9 | 11.4 |
| Respiratory failure | 7 | 8.9 |
| Hepatic dysfunction | 5 | 6.3 |
| Thrombosis | 4 | 5.1 |
| Management/outcome | ||
| Adjunctive clindamycin | 55 | 69.6 |
| IVIG treatment | 8 | 10.1 |
| Surgery or drainagec | 35 | 44.3 |
| PICU admission | 27 | 34.2 |
| Sequelae at 30 days | 10 | 12.7 |
| Case fatality rate | 4 | 5.1 |
IVIG: intravenous immunoglobulin; PICU: paediatric intensive care unit; STSS: streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
a Underlying medical conditions included chronic lung or neurological diseases, chronic skin conditions and sickle cell disease. The exact diseases or conditions were not specified in the questionnaire.
b Infections occurring within the 2 weeks preceding the hospital admission or present at admission. Information on preceding varicella infection was available for 69 cases and on preceding respiratory infection for 65 cases. No data was obtained on the detection of specific respiratory viruses.
c Mostly joint (13/35; 37.1%) and pleural fluid drainage (12/35; 34.3%).