A seven-year-old girl from the Home Counties died from invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection that led to sepsis, after initially showing mild cold-like symptoms. Annaliese Louise passed away in the summer of 2018, just one day after her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Her mother, Clare Louise, 54, said Annaliese woke up with 'the sniffles' but appeared to improve enough to attend school. However, the next day she became lethargic and complained of hip pain. Clare took her to the GP and later to a hospital day ward, where tests were conducted and she was discharged. The following morning, Annaliese was in severe pain, developed diarrhoea and mottled thighs. Rushed back to hospital at 10am, she died by 1pm.
Clare has since written a book, 'And Always Annaliese', to help others cope with grief. She described being in shock and feeling guilty, though medical experts confirmed the infection could have been treated with antibiotics if caught earlier. The entire family underwent tests for iGAS after her death.
According to the NHS, invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) is a severe form of strep A where bacteria enter normally sterile parts of the body, such as the bloodstream. Early recognition and treatment are vital.
