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If you
watch Coronation Street you might know what I mean. For those who
do not watch it (tsktsk, what's wrong with you?) or for those of
you who have wiped the heart-rending scenes from your memory to save
yourself, here is a summary:
Poor tragic worried-brow Alison Webster had a baby, infected him with
some a nasty infection which a doctor (almost in passing) said she had in
her vagina, the baby died, some other stuff happened, then she flung
herself in the path of a great big lorry (on a small street which only
seconds before had been deathly silent and filled only with policemen
creeping up on her).
The
feeling after this distressing chain of events was mainly (for me anyway)
'what the....?' After all, poor old Alison always got the blame (e.g., her
own parents blamed her for the death of her baby sister years before)(yes,
yes, I know it's not really real). Then to just finish off this
poor gal's burden of guilt she was responsible for the death of her new
son. No doubt this will trigger off a special soap one-week-descent-into-hell
(e.g., alcoholic/drug addict for a week, or grieving for just two
episodes, or practically bankrupt but only for a week and still able to
drink in the pub every day). But more seriously what is this strep thing
this soap doctor mentioned? Is it real? Should pregnant women be worried?
The
facts are these: Group B streptococcus (a.k.a. GBS) is a bacterial
infection which affects about 5-10% of women. A minute amount of these
women carry this bug as a virulent type in their vagina which can then
pass on to their baby during labour (a la Jake Webster) and can also cause
blood poisoning for both mother and baby. It can be detected with a swab
and treated with antibiotics during labour (any earlier is not reliable).
Soon everyone may be offered a test but if you want one now you should ask.
Further
info (e.g., who is considered to be high risk) is at: www.gbss.org.uk
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