What is Scarlet Fever?
Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. It typically occurs in children and is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Sore throat
- High fever
- Swollen glands
- Red rash that feels rough, like sandpaper.
What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?
Scarlet fever initially looks like sunburn and starts on the face and neck before spreading to the body, causing itching. Other symptoms include:
- Sore throat that may have white blotches
- Fever, with or without chills
- Headache or body aches
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Nausea, Vomiting and abdominal pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Deep red colouring in the creases of the arms, legs, neck and groin.
- Flushed face with a pale ring around the mouth
When to see a doctor?
Contact your doctor if your child suddenly gets a rash, especially with fever, sore throat, or swollen glands. It's crucial if they might have strep throat, or if someone around them recently had it.
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Get A Second OpinionWhat are the causes of scarlet fever?
Scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as "group A Strep," which can also lead to various other infections such as skin, chest, and heart infections.
This bacterial infection is transmitted from person to person by droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The scarlet fever incubation period is usually 2 to 4 days.
What are the risk factors for scarlet fever?
Children 5 to 15 years of age are more likely to get scarlet fever. This infection is easily transmitted when someone is in close contact with an infected person, such as family members, child-care groups, or classmates.
Scarlet fever usually occurs after a strep throat infection. However, it may also happen after a skin infection, like impetigo.
Complications of Scarlet Fever
The symptoms of scarlet fever should usually disappear in 10 to 2 weeks with antibiotic treatment. If left untreated this infection can have serious consequences. These are some examples:
- Pneumonia
- Ear infection
- Sinusitis
- Throat abscess
- Long-term kidney disease
- Rheumatic fever
- Inflammation of the kidneys,
- Skin infections
The following complications are possible but very rare:
- Meningitis
- Acute kidney failure
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Necrotizing fasciitis,
- Endocarditis
- Infection of the bone and bone marrow
Prevention of Scarlet Fever
There is no vaccine to prevent scarlet fever. By taking certain precautions it is possible to keep away from the disease
- Wash your hands: Show your child how to thoroughly wash their hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitiser can be used if soap and water are unavailable.
- Don't share dining utensils or food: Children should never share cups or utensils with friends or classmates.
- Cover mouth and nose: To avoid the transmission of germs, teach your kid to cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
If your kid has scarlet fever, always wash drinking glasses and utensils in hot soapy water or the dishwasher after they have been used.
Diagnosis
If the child gets a sore throat with a body rash or fever, consult the doctor immediately. To check for scarlet fever, the doctor will do the following tests:
- Physical exam: A doctor will examine the rash and throat to determine whether the lymph nodes are swollen. They will also look for symptoms such as chills, fever, and body aches. They'll enquire if the child experiences nausea, vomiting, or a lack of appetite.
- Throat swab: To determine if the symptoms are caused by scarlet fever or strep throat, they will swab the throat and tonsils for group A strep bacteria.
- Rapid strep test: The results of a rapid test will be ready before you leave the office. If it is negative, the doctor may order a culture, which is a more in-depth method to check whether or not a bacterium is present.
It is important to check for strep because other infections can show the same symptoms as strep. and may be treated differently.
What are the treatments for scarlet fever?
- Take antibiotics: Finish the whole course to stop the infection from spreading.
- Use OTC drugs for fever and discomfort: Check with the doctor before giving ibuprofen to kids. Adults can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Avoid aspirin: It can cause Reye's syndrome during a fever.
- Try other medications for sore throat: Gargle with salt water and use a humidifier.
What are the precautions for scarlet fever?
Some precautions can be taken to reduce the child's discomfort and pain during scarlet fever.
- Take rest: Sleep helps to improve the body's immune system and its ability to fight diseases. Encourage your child to take rest until they feel better.
- Drink plenty of water: Drink water to lubricate sore throat to facilitate easy swallowing and also to prevent dehydration.
- Do a saltwater gargle: Gargling salt water multiple times a day might help reduce throat discomfort in older children and adults.
- Humidify the air: Adding moisture to the air might help relieve pain. Choose a cool-mist humidifier and clean it regularly since germs and mould can grow in some humidifiers. Saline nasal sprays also help in lubricating mucous membranes.
- Honey: Honey can relieve a sore throat. Honey should not be given to children under the age of 12 months.
- Offer soothing foods: Soups, cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, soft fruits, yoghurt, and soft-boiled eggs are easy-to-swallow meals. Cold foods like frozen yoghurt, sherbet, frozen fruit pop, and warm beverages like broth can be relaxing. Avoid meals that are hot or acidic, such as orange juice.
- Avoid irritants: Cigarette smoke can irritate a sore throat. Also, stay away from fumes that might irritate the throat and lungs. These compounds are examples of paint, cleaning products, incense, and essential oils.
Care at Medicover Hospitals
At Medicover, we have the best team of medical experts who treat scarlet fever. We have round-the-clock doctors, laboratory, ICU, radiology, and emergency services to ensure patients receive the best possible care on time. The department is staffed by renowned healthcare professionals and compassionate, well-trained paramedical staff to provide satisfactory treatment to our patients.
