What is scarlet fever?
How do you get scarlet fever?
What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?
How is scarlet fever diagnosed?
What is the treatment for scarlet fever?
Is there anything else I can do to make
my child feel better?
What should I do if I think my child has
scarlet fever?
What is scarlet
fever?
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by a bacteria called
group A streptococcus, the same bacteria that causes strep throat.
Scarlet fever is a rash that sometimes occurs in people that have
strep throat. The rash of scarlet fever is usually seen in children
under the age of 18.
How do you get
scarlet fever?
This illness can be caught from other people if you come in contact
with the sick person because this germ is carried in the mouth
and nasal fluids. If you touch your mouth, nose or eyes after
touching something that has these fluids on them, you may become
ill. Also, if you drink from the same glass or eat from the same
plate as the sick person, you could also become ill. The best
way to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands often and
avoid sharing eating utensils.
What are the
symptoms of scarlet fever?
The most common symptoms of scarlet fever are:
- A rash first appears as tiny red bumps on the chest and abdomen.
This rash may then spread all over the body. It looks like a
sunburn and feels like a rough piece of sandpaper. It is usually
redder in the arm pits and groin areas. The rash lasts about
2-5 days. After the rash is gone, often the skin on the tips
of the fingers and toes begins to peel.
- The face is flushed with a pale area around the lips.
- The throat is very red and sore. It can have white or yellow
patches.
- A fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) or
higher is common. Chills are often seen with the fever.
- Glands in the neck are often swollen.
- A whitish coating can appear on the surface of the tongue.
The tongue itself looks like a strawberry because the normal
bumps on the tongue look bigger.
Other less common symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Body aches
How is scarlet
fever diagnosed?
Your doctor or health care provider will examine your child and
swab the back of the throat with a cotton swab to see if there
is a streptococcus infection.
What is the
treatment for scarlet fever?
If the swab test (throat culture) shows that there is streptococcus,
you will be given an antibiotic prescription for your child. Give
this medicine exactly as you are told. It is very important to
finish all of the medicine. Never share any of this medicine with
family or friends. Ask your doctor or health care provider about
over-the-counter medicine to lessen sore throat pain.
Is there
anything else I can do to make my child feel better?
Warm liquids like soup or cold foods like popsicles or milkshakes
help to ease the pain of the sore throat. Offer these to your
child often, especially when he/she has a fever since the body
needs a lot of fluid when it is sick with a fever. A cool mist
humidifier will help to keep the air in your child's room moist
which will keep the throat from getting too dry and more sore.
Rest is important.
What should
I do if I think my child has scarlet fever?
The best thing to do if you think your child may be ill is to
call your doctor or health care provider.
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