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Research
Missing Piece Study protocol: Prospective surveillance to determine the epidemiology of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and impetigo in remote Western AustraliaGroup A β-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS), a Gram-positive bacterium, causes skin, mucosal and systemic infections. Repeated GAS infections can lead to autoimmune diseases acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia have the highest rates of ARF and RHD in the world.
Research
A pilot study to develop assessment tools for Group A Streptococcus surveillance studiesGroup A Streptococcus (GAS) causes pharyngitis (sore throat) and impetigo (skin sores) GAS pharyngitis triggers rheumatic fever (RF) with epidemiological evidence supporting that GAS impetigo may also trigger RF in Australian Aboriginal children. Understanding the concurrent burden of these superficial GAS infections is critical to RF prevention. This pilot study aimed to trial tools for concurrent surveillance of sore throats and skins sore for contemporary studies of RF pathogenesis including development of a sore throat checklist for Aboriginal families and pharynx photography.
As Head of Aboriginal Research Development at Telethon Kids, Glenn Pearson believes his work brings us closer to identifying the real and whole Australian story

News & Events
WA Health funding supports development of rapid test for antibiotic-resistant skin infections in Aboriginal childrenA rapid test to detect antibiotic-resistant skin infections in Aboriginal children could be a step closer, thanks to support from the FHRIF.

News & Events
Round one done, eight to go for the SToP TrialSix weeks, nine community visits and 380 kids – it’s a wrap for round one of the StoP Trial!
Research
Are scabies and impetigo “normalised”? A cross-sectional comparative study of hospitalised children in northern Australia assessing clinical recognitionScabies and impetigo infections are under-recognised and hence under-treated by clinicians
Research
Scabies and risk of skin sores in remote Australian Aboriginal communities: A self-controlled case series studyThe association between scabies and skin sores is highly significant and indicates a causal relationship
Research
Ascertaining infectious disease burden through primary care clinic attendance among young Aboriginal children living in four remote communities in Western AustraliaImproved public health measures targeting bacterial skin infections are needed to reduce this high burden of skin infections in Western Australia
Research
Burden of skin disease in two remote primary healthcare centres in northern and central AustraliaSkin infections are an under-appreciated and dominant reason for presentation to primary healthcare centres in these indigenous communities

News & Events
Program aims to stop skin infections in their tracksAn innovative program set to run for about two and a half years aims to halve the number of children affected by skin infections.