Strep A kills half a million per year; why don't we have a vaccine?
Strep A bacteria cause over 500,000 deaths annually, mainly in low-income countries. Researchers in Uganda are trialing early interventions, including monthly penicillin shots, to prevent severe complications like rheumatic heart disease.
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Strep A bacteria are responsible for over half a million deaths annually, primarily affecting low-income countries where access to effective treatment is limited. In high-income nations, strep A typically causes mild illnesses like strep throat, easily treated with antibiotics. However, untreated infections in poorer regions can lead to severe complications such as rheumatic heart disease, which affects millions and results in significant mortality. Despite the feasibility of developing a vaccine, progress has been slow, with several candidates still in trials. Researchers like Andrea Beaton are focusing on early intervention strategies to prevent the progression of strep infections to heart disease. In Uganda, Beaton's team is conducting trials to identify children with early signs of heart damage and provide them with preventive care, including monthly penicillin shots. The initiative aims to disrupt the cycle of untreated strep infections leading to severe health issues. The challenges include logistical barriers for families, such as travel costs and lack of communication tools. The study has already screened over 102,000 children, identifying many with early-stage rheumatic heart disease, and aims to determine the effectiveness of early antibiotic treatment.
- Strep A bacteria cause over 500,000 deaths each year, particularly in low-income countries.
- Rheumatic heart disease, a severe complication of untreated strep infections, affects millions globally.
- Vaccine development for strep A has been slow despite recent breakthroughs.
- Researchers are conducting trials in Uganda to provide early intervention and treatment for affected children.
- The study aims to assess the effectiveness of monthly penicillin shots in preventing disease progression.
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6 commentsThink this is the problem they should be solving before trying to immunize people against bacteria that lives literally everywhere
It was the single worst experience of my life. I was in a hotel, a fever crept in. Then my throat was so swollen I could barely talk. I was sweating so much that my delirious brain decided it would be a good idea to lay out all the clothes in my suitcase onto the bed. I had a fever dream that my brother had called an ambulance to save me.
I then woke up to realise I was still actually in hell. I managed to muster up the strength to go down to the hotel lobby and ask the hotel receptionist to direct me to the nearest pharmacy. I almost couldn't speak because my throat was almost swollen shut. Sweat was literally pouring down my face and I sounded, let's say, incompetent.
I eventually arrived at the pharmacy and I honestly credit the lovely lady there for saving my life. She gave me fever reducers and a concentrated iodine-based throat gargle.
It took around five days to recover from this, I had missed my flight and had to book a new one back. When I arrived back home, the first comment I received was "there is no colour in your face, you're white as a sheet".
I've had many of the nasty viruses several times (covid, you-name-it flu, measles even, please do not ask).
This was by far the worst illness I can remember.
Did they not poll anyone on this? I struggle greatly to believe the greater public wouldn’t sprint to their nearest pharmacy for such a vaccine. I wanted to fund it before the article was over - I simply never knew such a thing was on the table.
Antibiotics come up here a lot and other places in discussion due to their (possibly) bad side effects or immunity with excessive use.
I think someone else here pointed out that it's tricky to make an immune response have the desired outcome and no undesired ones so a vaccine may not be the right hammer for this nail.
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