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One in seven children develops a sore throat caused by Strep A bacteria every year, according to a new study that will help inform future vaccine trials.

The STAMPS study, led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and The Kids Research Institute Australia (The Kids), found 15% of children, ages 3–14, experienced at least one Strep A sore throat yearly. The rate was highest among 5- to 9-year-olds at 21%.

MCRI Tropical Diseases Group senior research fellow Dr. John Hart said the study had generated important new evidence aimed at preventing Strep A infections and its life-threatening complications.

"Not every sore throat is caused by Strep A, and some children can carry the bacteria without having symptoms," he said. "At the start of the study we found about 13% of children were asymptomatic while carrying the bacteria.

"Knowing how common Strep A sore throats are is essential to planning future clinical trials such as helping to determine how many children need to take part and measuring whether a vaccine works."

Strep A commonly causes sore throats and skin infections, but can also result in serious complications such as sepsis, kidney disease, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

The contagious bacterium affects about 750 million people and causes more than 500,000 deaths each year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately affected by rheumatic heart disease and other serious Strep A diseases.

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