Jamie Ducharme
Strep throat is a common childhood illness, but in a few children this bacteria infection can lead to alarming, lasting changes in behaviour. Scientists are now starting to unravel how it affects the brain.
On Charlie Drury’s eighth birthday, his life changed forever.
It was November 2012 and the day had all the usual birthday fun – cake, presents and themed party food. But as the day wore on, Charlie’s mother, Kate Drury, noticed something strange about her son’s behaviour. It started with an eye twitch and then he kept sniffing his hands. Later in the day, he developed a fever. Drury took him to an urgent care clinic near the family’s home in Illinois, US, where he was diagnosed with Streptococcal pharyngitis, also known as strep throat.
Gabriella True
