WHAT is SCARLET FEVER?

Scarlet fever or scarlatina is a contagious infection caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. The toxins created by the bacteria cause the scarlet colored rash, hence the name scarlet fever. Fortunately not all streptococci bacteria make this toxin and not all kids are sensitive to it. Scarlet fever rarely affects people over 18 years. The common age group affected are between the ages 5-15 years.

According to Henriette's Herbal Home Page. "The early history of scarlet fever is not very reliable as it was a long time regarded as a variety of measles, and the first definite and distinctive name that gave it as a separate and distinct disease must be credited to Sydenham, who carefully studied it's characteristic features and clearly separated it from the other exanthemata."Thomas Sydenham was an English physician. (1624-1689).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Scarlet fever is characterized by the following signs and symptoms.

It starts off with sore throat and a fever.

Followed in 1 - 2 days by an itchy sunburn with tiny bumps that feel like sand paper.

Initially it invades the face and neck areas.

A characteristic sign is that the skin around the mouth area is always clear.

The neck glands are enlarged.

The tongue is bright red with a strawberry appearance.

It then spreads to the chest, back and the rest of the body.

Red streaks appear in creases under the arms, elbows and other areas of the body with creases.

When pressure is applied to areas of the body the area turns white.

There may also be nausea, vomiting ad loss of appetite, along with general body aches and malaise.

After six days the rash disappears and there is peeling of the skin at the finger tips, toes and groin area.

TREATMENT

The physician will do a physical examination.

A throat swab will be taken for cultural studies in the laboratory.

Usually the antibiotic of choice is penicillin for 10 days.

A soft or liquid diet such as, soup, ice-cream, jello and milk shake is encouraged.

COMPLICATIONS

Proper treatment of scarlet fever will ward off the complications of:

Rheumatic fever

Ear infection (Otitis Media)

Sinusitis

Meningitis

Liver damage

Kidney problems.

PREVENTION

Scarlet Fever is spread by direct contact with infected persons through droplet infection.

Prevent the spread of scarlet infection by avoiding person to person contact with infected persons.

Today, scarlet fever is much easier to treat than in the past this all started with the legacy of Dr. Thomas Sydenham who distinguished it from other varieties of measles.