Common Childhood Disease - Scarlet Fever

Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is an infectious disease that causes a rash. It’s also known as scarlatina. It is caused by the same kind of bacteria that cause strep throat. It may also be caused by infected wounds or burns. The rash is made up of tiny red bumps that feel like sandpaper.

 Causes Scarlet Fever in a Child


Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS). These bacteria release a poison (toxin) that travels through your child's bloodstream and causes a rash.
The strep A bacteria live in the nose and throat. When someone who has the disease coughs or sneezes, the bacteria are spread onto surfaces. A child can get sick by touching one of these surfaces and then touching his or her nose, mouth, or eyes. A child can also get it by sharing cups or eating utensils with someone who is sick. Contact with open sores from group A strep skin infections can also spread the disease.

Which children are at risk for scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever most commonly occurs in children between 5 and 12 years old. A child is more at risk for scarlet fever if he or she is around a person who is infected with GABHS bacteria.

Symptoms of Scarlet Fever in a child

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They can start with:
·         Fever
·         Sore throat
·         Chills
·         Headache
·         Vomiting
·         Stomach pain
·         Coated white tongue
·         Strawberry-like color of the tongue
The rash starts about 1 to 2 days after the first symptoms. The red, sandpaper-like rash appears on the neck, forehead, cheeks, and chest. It may then spread to the arms and back. The rash usually starts to fade after 2 to 7 days. The skin in the areas of the rash may peel after the infection is over, especially on the hands, feet, and genitals.
The symptoms of scarlet fever can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
    Is scarlet fever contagious?

The infection can spread two to five days before a person feels ill and may be spread through contact with droplets from an infected person’s saliva, nasal secretions, sneeze, or cough. This means that any person can contract scarlet fever if they come into direct contact with these infected droplets and then touch their own mouth, nose, or eyes.

You may also get scarlet fever if you drink from the same glass or eat off of the same utensils as a person with the infection. In some cases, group A strep infections have been spread through contaminated foodTrusted Source.

Group A strep can cause a skin infection in some people. These skin infections, known as cellulitis, can spread the bacteria to others. However, touching the rash of scarlet fever will not spread the bacteria since the rash is a result of the toxin not the bacteria itself.

Complications with scarlet fever

In most cases, the rash and other symptoms of scarlet fever will be gone in about 10 days to 2 weeks with antibiotic treatment. However, scarlet fever can cause serious complications. These can include:
  • rheumatic fever
  • kidney disease (glomerulonephritis)
  • ear infections
  • throat abscesses
  • pneumonia
  • arthritis
Ear infections, throat abscesses, and pneumonia can best be avoided if scarlet fever is treated promptly with the proper antibiotics. Other complications are known to be the result of the body’s immune response to the infection rather than the bacteria themselves.

 prevent scarlet fever in my child

  
There is no vaccine to prevent strep throat or scarlet fever. Children who have strep throat or scarlet fever should not go to school or to daycare for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

   The best way to prevent scarlet fever is to wash your hands often. Don’t share eating utensils, linens, towels, or other personal items. Anyone who has a sore throat should wash his or her hands often. To wash your hands well:
·         Hold them under clean running water. Turn off the water and rub soap all over your hands.
·       Rub your soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to scrub under your nails, between your fingers, and up your arm.
·         Rinse well under clean running water.
·         Dry using a clean towel or air dry.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based cleanser with at least 60% alcohol

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call the doctor whenever your child suddenly develops a rash, especially if he or she also has a fever, sore throat, or swollen glands. This is especially important if your child has any of the symptoms of strep throat, or if someone in your family or at your child's daycare or school recently had a strep infection.

DR NITIN GUPTA
BEST PEDIATRICIAN IN GAUR CITY, 
GREATER NOIDA WEST 

    http://drnitin.drsuchiguptagynaeclinic.com/

 


Location: Gaur City 1, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201009, India

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