Health officials have issued advice to parents and carers who may be worried about cases of strep A following the death of a Hove schoolgirl to the illness.

NHS officials from Sussex have said that more people have been coming forward for advice and treatment from the health service in relation to their children’s health, with the majority of cases being mild illnesses.

However, NHS Sussex has said that services in the county are very busy as a result, with some people having to wait longer to be seen.

Dr Dinesh Sinha, chief medical officer for NHS Sussex, said: “Infection with strep A bacteria usually causes a sore throat, scarlet fever or skin rash and is passed by physical contact or through droplets from sneezing or coughing.

“In very rare cases, the infection can become invasive and enter parts of the body where bacteria are not normally found, which can be serious.

“I would stress that most people who come into contact with strep A infections remain well and symptom-free and most illnesses that are caused by it are mild.

“However, anyone who feels their child is seriously unwell should contact NHS 111.”

Strep A is a common bacteria, which causes a range of infections, including scarlet fever - with more cases of the illness being seen than normal for this time of year.

Early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics reduces the risk of complications, such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.

The advice from health officials comes after a 12-year-old schoolgirl died earlier week from strep A.

Tributes have flooded in for the girl, who The Argus understands was a pupil at Hove Park School in Hangleton Way and taken to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Dawn Barnett and Nick Lewry, councillors for the Hangleton and Knoll ward - where the school is located, said they were “very sad” by the news.

Cllr Barnett said: “It is a great tragedy and I sympathise with the family.”

Experts from the UK Health Security Agency and Brighton and Hove City Council are working with Hove Park School to provide advice on all necessary public health actions and to ensure accurate information is shared with the school community.

Director of public health at the city council Alistair Hill said: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the whole school community who will all be deeply affected by the very tragic loss of this young child, and we are providing our support to them at this incredibly sad time.”