That’s exactly what a team of West Australian researchers just showed. They discovered that one in six Indigenous children within the Kimberley region are living with the possibly life-threatening infection that is strep A. It’s high time, given the vast disparities outlined in this study, to take more proactive steps toward early detection. It’s time we started doing something to stop ARF and RHD from devastating these vulnerable populations. The research seeks to combat the currently alarming strep A rate, with up to 70% of cases going undiagnosed.
Under the leadership of Dr. Janessa Pickering and Professor Asha Bowen, this research team moves forward with incredible passion. As a next step, they hope their findings will lead to improved detection and treatment approaches. For the duration of the study, researchers tested children every three months for strep A, even if they didn’t have symptoms. We collected throat and skin swabs from all students with a clinical complaint of sore throat or skin sore. This proactive, community-focused approach allowed for a much stronger view of the strep A infection landscape in the region.
Research Methodology
Conducted over a span of four years, the study built a robust and diverse dataset. It involved 1,000 throat swabs, 200 skin swabs and 400 blood samples. One laboratory in Perth undertook the analysis of these samples. Their results provided the first important baseline data on how common strep A is among Kimberley children.
“While the rate of infection is alarming, it’s the tip of the iceberg,” said Professor Asha Bowen. She focuses on the need to legislatively devote immediate attention to this growing public health crisis.
The methodology was designed to identify symptomatic and asymptomatic participants with strep A. Dr. Pickering said that the early results were already proving cases of repeated strep A infections—even when there weren’t even visible symptoms. This indicates that thousands of children are in danger of acquiring ARF.
“[The results] tell us there’s a lot more children at risk of rheumatic fever than are currently being counted through the standard clinic procedures because the symptoms aren’t bad enough for them to think ‘I need to go to clinic’.” – Professor Asha Bowen
Implications for Health Care
The alarming discovery of high strep A infection rates among Kimberley children calls for enhanced clinical guidelines and increased investment in RHD prevention initiatives. Professor Bowen emphasized the need to address the link between sore throats and skin sores associated with strep A. This concern is felt most acutely in remote communities where populations endure some of the highest chronic disease burdens.
By advocating for Point-of-Care testing, the study’s purpose is to improve clinical care. This approach will deliver fast results for sore throat swabs in around 20 minutes. This strategy could allow for prompt treatment as soon as strep A is identified, minimizing complications due to delayed diagnosis.
“We are looking at Point-of-Care tests so a result could be given for a sore throat swab within about 20 minutes of being collected, rather than waiting five to seven days,” – Professor Asha Bowen
By focusing on increasing early detection, researchers hope to prevent more cases of ARF and subsequently RHD in these communities. Dr. Pickering is hopeful that these findings will inform larger discussions about preventing RHD around the world.
“This is important, as asymptomatic strep A infections have been shown to be a key contributor to strep A transmission and could be a vital missing link in the global conversation around RHD prevention,” – Dr. Janessa Pickering
Future Directions
What these study findings show us is a dramatic rise in cases of strep A among Kimberley communities. This new wave is much bigger than ever recognized. This important finding signals the need to further explore these protective microbiomes that may protect against infection in certain children.
“[The results] provide us with a path forward for looking at the protective microbiome, or healthy bugs in the throat, that could be potentially guarding some kids against infection.” – Dr. Janessa Pickering
Shelley Kneebone further emphasized the need for broader social and environmental justice to improve children’s health in these communities. “I hope the true burden of infection discovered will emphasise the need for greater focus on the social and environmental issues that affect our young children,” she stated.
