Parents are urged to be aware of the symptoms as cases continue to soar.

Four more children have died from Strep A , bringing the total number of children who have died with the infection in the UK since mid-September to 30, new figures show.

The four deaths are in addition to two confirmed in Scotland on Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

In total, 122 people of all ages have died in England from the invasive form of the bacterial infection.

The UKHSA said GPs and chemists were seeing 'exceptional levels' of scarlet fever, the infectious disease caused by the Streptococcal bacteria, this year compared to previous seasons.

While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria cause a life-threatening illness called invasive group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease.

• Strep A: What to do if you can't get a doctor's appointment.

'Vast majority of cases are easily treated'

Dr Obaghe Edeghere, UKHSA incident director, said: 'We are continuing to see a rise in scarlet fever and 'strep throat' and this is understandably concerning for parents.

'However I would stress that the condition can be easily treated with antibiotics and it is very rare that a child will go on to become more seriously ill.

'Over the winter, there are lots of illnesses circulating that can make children unwell and so it is important to avoid contact with other people if you are feeling unwell, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly and catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue.

If you are unsure whether your child has Strep A, the flu, RSV or a cold, you can view the symptoms for all of these illnesses here.

What are the Strep A symptoms?

Parents are urged to be aware of the four key signs of Group Strep A.

According to the NHS, these are:

1. A fever (meaning a high temperature above 38°C)
2. Severe muscle aches
3. Localised muscle tenderness
4. Redness at the site of a wound

The invasive version of the disease happens when the bacteria break through the body's immune defences. This can happen if you're already feeling unwell or have an immune system that’s weakened.

The NHS says that when it comes to scarlet fever, your child will most likely start off with cold-like symptoms.

The signs will include:

1. A high temperature
2. Sore throat
3. Swollen neck glands
4. Rash 12-48 hours after initial symptoms. This usually starts on the tummy and then spreads
5. White coating on the tongue
6. Red cheeks

The official advice is to speak to your GP or call 111 if your child is poorly and getting worse.

Is there a vaccine for Strep A?

Currently, there's no vaccine for Strep A.

However, a vaccine that protects against Step A could be on the horizon after scientists made a breakthrough in understanding how the body fights off the pesky bacteria, according to the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine .

Swedish researchers have found an antibody that can help fight off Strep A bacteria in an unusual way. They believe this could be key to developing a jab.

The researchers from Lund University looked at the blood of patients who recovered from a severe Strep A infection to determine how their immune system had fought off the bacteria.

This allowed them to map the antibodies that their bodies produced when they were unwell.

This approach helped to identify the antibodies that could be harnessed for medicines or vaccines once an infection has occurred.

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