HEALTH - SCARLET FEVER
Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria make a toxin (poison) that can cause the scarlet-colored rash from which this illness gets its name. Not all streptococci bacteria make this toxin and not all kids are sensitive to it. Two kids in the same family may both have strep infections, but one child (who is sensitive to the toxin) may develop the rash of scarlet fever while the other may not. Usually, if a child has this scarlet rash and other symptoms of strep throat, it can be treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms
The rash is the most striking sign of scarlet fever. It usually begins looking like a bad sunburn with tiny bumps and it may itch. The rash usually appears first on the neck and face, often leaving a clear unaffected area around the mouth. It spreads to the chest and back, then to the rest of the body. In body creases, especially around the underarms and elbows, the rash forms classic red streaks. Areas of rash usually turn white when you press on them. By the sixth day of the infection the rash usually fades, but the affected skin may begin to peel. Aside from the rash, there are usually other symptoms that help to confirm a diagnosis of scarlet fever, including a reddened sore throat, a fever above 101° Fahrenheit (38.3° Celsius), and swollen glands in the neck.
The tonsils and back of the throat may be covered with a whitish coating, or appear red, swollen, and dotted with whitish or yellowish specks of pus. Early in the infection, the tongue may have a whitish or yellowish coating. A child with scarlet fever also may have chills, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. When scarlet fever occurs because of a throat infection, the fever typically stops within 3 to 5 days, and the sore throat passes soon afterward. The scarlet fever rash usually fades on the sixth day after sore throat symptoms began, but skin that was covered by rash may begin to peel. This peeling may last 10 days. With antibiotic treatment, the infection itself is usually cured with a 10-day course of antibiotics, but it may take a few weeks for tonsils and swollen glands to return to normal.
TreatmentTreatment for scarlet fever involves the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are the main medications that are used for treating this bacterial infection. Scarlet fever is usually diagnosed by evaluating the medical history of the patient, and with the helps of throat examination, throat culture, rapid antigen test and rapid DNA test. After a confirmed diagnosis, physicians can prescribe the appropriate antibiotics for scarlet fever treatment in children. The antibiotics that are more commonly used for treating scarlet fever are, penicillin, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin and cephalosporin. It is very important to complete the entire course of antibiotics given by the physicians for the complete eradication of the infection causing bacteria. Along with antibiotics, a few other medications can also be required for treating the symptoms of scarlet fever. As for example, medications like, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be required for reducing fever and body aches. To get relief from sore throat, one can gargle with saline water, drink warm liquid like, soup or suck on throat lozenges. Hope by now, you have got a fair idea about scarlet fever treatment, as well as its causes and symptoms. If you observe any of the symptoms of scarlet fever, be sure to get the condition immediately evaluated with the help of a physician. Untreated scarlet fever can sometimes lead to a few complications like, sinusitis, pneumonia and middle ear infection. In rare circumstances, untreated scarlet fever can also cause rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. However, scarlet fever can be cured completely and all such complications can be avoided with prompt treatment.
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