What Causes Scarlet Fever in Children
What is Scarlet Fever?
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus, that also causes strep throat. It mostly affects children but can affect adults too. It causes red bumpy sandpaper like rashes all over the body with high fever, sore throat, red strawberry like tongue and body pains. Though it can be a very uncomfotable experience, in most cases it can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
Scarlet Fever Causes in Children
Scarlet fever is caused by the same bacteria as strep throat - Group A Streptococcus. It is highly contagious and easily spreads when an infected person sneezes or coughs transmitting bacteria as tiny droplets, through air, surfaces, shared plates, glasses, rarely through food not handled well and sometimes by toughing the sores of the infected person.
Scarlet Fever Symptoms in Children
It starts out as a high fever with sore throat followed by red bumpy rashes all over the body. Rash is the most obvious sign of scarlet fever:
The rash first develops around the neck and chest
May spread to back, arms, face and legs
Tiny red dots may appear on elbows, underarms, skin folds and groin area might look brighter red than the rest
The tongue might start out with a thick white coat
Tongue turns to strawberry like red, swollen with bumps and area around mouth may become pale
Roof of mouth may also be covered in red bumps
The throat may be sore, swollen with flared up tonsils, may be covered in white yellow pus dots across throat and tonsils
High fever, body aches, chills, headaches, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and decreased appetite is also common in scarlet fever.
Skin peeling starts a week to 10 days after the rash fades, even more so on the fingers and could continue to peel for days to weeks.
Scarlet Fever Complications in Children
Scarlet fever in most cases can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. In very rare cases, the bacteria spreads to various organs causing complications like:
Swollen lymph nodes
Abcess in the mouth, around tonsils or brain
Pneumonia
Rheumatic Fever
Septicemia
Arthritis
Meningitis
Ear and Sinus Infections
Kidney Damage
Autoimmune issues like PANDAS
Scarlet Fever Diagnosis in Children
Doctor confirms scarlet fever by physical exam and rapid strep test which is almost immediate, in case the test comes up negative he may ask for a culture test to confirm the bacterial infection.
Scarlet Fever Treatment in Children
Scarlet fever is treated using a full course of antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor based on his diagnosis. In most cases you should start to feel better in a day after starting the course but avoid stepping out until 12 hours or longer post the start of treatment as it is highly contagious.
How to Prevent Scarlet Fever in Children
While there are no vaccinations for scarlet fever, practicing good hygiene is key in preventing the infection.
Encourage your child to wash hands with soap for 20 seconds regularly
Using sanitizer in case soap or water is not accessible
Avoid meeting people who are infected with strep and in case you do, wear a mask and follow good hygienic practices like washing hands, avoid touching surfaces and sharing utensils.
Cover your mouth while coughing and sneezing
When to See a Doctor
If your child has a rash, fever with sore throat call your doctor immediately to have your child tested for scarlet fever. While Scarlet fever by itself is not usually dangerous and timely treatment with antibiotics can cure the symptoms, see your dcotor if the symptoms don't improve, get worse or develop new symptoms after starting the treatment.