Scarlet fever

Description

Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that develops in some people who have a sore throat. Also known as scarlatina, scarlet fever features a bright red rash that covers most of the body. Scarlet fever is almost always includes a sore throat and a high fever.

Scarlet fever is most common in children 5 to 15 years of age. Although scarlet fever was once considered a serious childhood illness, antibiotic treatments have made it less threatening. Still, if it is left untreated, it sour headquarters fever can result in the most severe of conditions that affect the heart, kidneys, and other parts of the body.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms that give the scarlet fever its name include:

  • Red rash. The rash looks like a sunburn and feels like sandpaper. Is typically begins in the face or neck and spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs. Pressing on the reddened skin that makes pale.
  • The red lines. The folds of the skin around the groin, armpits, elbows, knees and the neck usually becomes a deeper red than in other areas with the eruption.
  • Red face. The face may appear flushed with a pale ring around the mouth.
  • Strawberry tongue. The tongue in general it looks red and bumpy, and is often covered with a layer of white paint to the beginning of the disease.

The signs and symptoms of scarlet fever also include:

  • Fever of 100.4 ° F (38.0 C) or higher, often with chills
  • A lot of pain and redness in the throat, sometimes with patches of white or yellowish
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Enlargement of the glands in the neck (lymph nodes) that are tender to the touch
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Belly (abdoinput) pain
  • Headache and pains in the body

The rash and redness on the face and the tongue usually last about a week. After these signs and symptoms have disappeared, the skin affected by the rash often the shells.

When to see a doctor

Talk with your health care provider if your child has a sore throat:

  • Fever of 100.4 ° F (38.0 C) or higher
  • Tenderness or swelling of the glands in the neck
  • A red rash

The signs and symptoms that require emergency evaluation

In children and adolescents, any of the following symptoms of need for emergency evaluation:

  • New shortness of breath at rest
  • Difficulty breathing (grunting, pulling the muscles of the chest between the ribs, from the pit of burning)
  • Loud, wheezy or raspy breathing that do not clear with coughing
  • Rapid breathing
  • Pain in the chest
  • Inability to swallow liquids or saliva, the voice off, or the inability to fully open the mouth
  • Confusion, lack of energy, or the inability to stay alert and awake
  • Feeling dizzy when sitting or standing
  • Drooling (if the age of 3 years or more)
  • Persistent or severe vomiting or diarrhea,
  • Dehydration

For infants less than 2-months of age, the additional symptoms that require emergency evaluation include:

  • Inability to be comforted
  • Breathing repeatedly starts and stops
  • The temperature less than 96.0 F (35.5 C) or higher than 100.4 ° F (38 C)

Causes

Scarlet fever is caused by the same type of the bacteria that causes strep throat — group a streptococcus (strep-toe-KOK-us), also called group a streptococcus. In scarlet fever, the bacteria release a toxin that causes the rash and the red tongue.

The infection is spread from person-to-person through droplets of released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The incubation period — the time between the exposure and the disease is usually 2 to 4 days.

Risk factors

Children 5 to 15 years of age are more likely than other people to get scarlet fever. Scarlet fever germ spread more easily between people in close contact, such as family members, care of children or groups of classmates.

Scarlet fever most often occurs after a strep throat infection. Sometimes scarlet fever may occur after an infection of the skin such as impetigo. People can get scarlet fever more than once.

Complications

If scarlet fever is not treated, the bacteria can spread to the:

  • Tonsils
  • Skin
  • The blood
  • Middle ear
  • Sinuses
  • The lungs
  • Heart
  • The kidneys
  • Joints
  • Muscles

Rarely, scarlet fever can lead to rheumatic fever, a serious inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, the nervous system and the skin.

A possible relationship has been suggested between the streptococcal infection and a rare condition called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with A group of streptococci (PANDAS). Children with this condition experience a worsening of symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or tic disorders, with streptococci. This relationship in the present continues to be tested and controversial.

Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent scarlet fever. The best ways to prevent scarlet fever are the same as those of standard precautions against infection:

  • Wash your hands. Show your child how to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are not available.
  • Do not share utensils or food. As a rule, your child should not share drinking glasses or utensils to eat with friends or classmates. This rule applies to share the meal, also.
  • The cover isr the mouth and the nose. Tell your child to cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to prevent the possible spread of germs.

If your child has scarlet fever, wash vessels and utensils with hot water and soap or in the dishwasher after his sonis one of them.

Scarlet fever

Diagnosis

During the physical exam, your doctor will:

  • Look at the condition of your child in the throat, the tonsils and the tongue
  • I feel the neck of your child to determine if the lymph nodes are enlarged
  • Evaluate the occurrence of and texture of the rash

Throat swab

If your doctor suspects strep is the cause of the illness of your child, your doctor will swab the tonsils and the back of your child's throat to collect material that can take the strep bacteria.

A rapid strep test can identify the bacteria quickly, usually during your child's appointment. If the rapid test is negative, but your health care provider still think that the strep bacteria is the cause of the illness of his son, an infection of the throat culture can be done. It may take longer to obtain the results of this test.

Evidence for the strep bacteria are important because a number of conditions that can cause the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever, and these diseases may require different treatments. If there are no bacteria, streptococcus, and then some other factor which is causing the disease.

Treatment

For scarlet fever, your health care provider will prescribe an antibiotic. Make sure your child takes the medication as directed. If your child does not follow the guidelines of treatment, the treatment can not completely remove the infection, which may increase the risk of your child developing complications.

The use of ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Motrin, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to control the fever and to minimize the pain of throat. Check with your child health care provider about the correct dose.

Your child may return to school after they have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours and not have a fever.

Self-care

During the scarlet fever, you can take several steps to reduce your child's discomfort and pain.

  • Plan plenty of rest. Sleep helps the body fight the infection. Have your child rest until you feel better. Also, keep your child at home until there is no sign of a fever and have taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours.
  • Encourage a lot of water. Maintain a sore throat lubricated and moist facilitates swallowing and helps prevent dehydration.
  • Prepare a gargle salt water. For older children and adults, gargle several times a day can help relieve a sore throat. Mix 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) of salt in 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of warm water. Be sure to tell your child to spit out the liquid after you gargle.
  • Humidify the air. The addition of moisture in the air can help to relieve the discomfort. Choose a cool-mist humidifier and clean it daily because bacteria and molds ca flourish in some humidifiers. Saline nasal sprays also help to keep the mucous membranes moist.
  • Supply of honey. Honey can be used to soothe a sore throat. Do not give honey to children under the age of 12 months.
  • Offer soothing foods. Easy to swallow foods include soup,s, applesauce, cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, soft fruits, yogurt and soft-boiled eggs. You can puree food in a blender to make them easier to swallow. Cold foods, such as sorbet, frozen yogurt or frozen fruit pops, and hot liquids, such as broth, can be a relief. Avoid spicy foods or acidic foods such as orange juice.
  • Avoid irritants. Cigarette smoke can irritate a sore throat. Also avoid the fumes from substances that can irritate the throat and lungs. These substances can include painting, cleaning products, incense, and essential oils.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that you first see your family doctor or your child's pediatrician. However, when you call to set your appointment, you may be urged to seek immediate medical attention.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you may want to create a list of questions to ask the health care professional. These may include:

  • How soon after starting the treatment of my child begin to feel better?
  • Is my child at risk of long-term complications related to the scarlet fever?
  • Is there anything I can do to help relieve my child's skin while it heals?
  • When my child return to school?
  • Is my child contagious? How can I reduce my child's risk of transmitting the disease to others?
  • Is there a generic alternative to jand medicine you're prescribing? What if my child is allergic to penicillin?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask a series of questions. His provider may ask:

  • When did your child begin to experience the symptoms?
  • Has your child had a sore throat or difficulty swallowing?
  • Your child has had a fever? How was the fever, and how long it lasted?
  • Has your child had abdominal pain or vomiting?
  • Have your child been eating properly?
  • Your child has complained of a headache?
  • Has your child recently had a strep infection?
  • Has your child recently been exposed to anyone with a strep infection?
  • Has your child been diagnosed with any other medical condition?
  • Is your child currently taking any medication?
  • Does your child have any medication allergies?

Be prepared to answer questions you may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk in-depth.

Symptoms and treatment of Scarlet fever