Overview
- Scarlet fever
Scarlet feverOpen pop-up dialog box
Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that develops in some people who have strep throat. Also known as scarlatina, scarlet fever features a bright red rash that covers most of the body. Scarlet fever is almost always accompanied by a sore throat and a high fever. Scarlatina treatment in Khammam - 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. Scarlatina treatment in Khammam
Symptom
The signs and symptoms that give scarlet fever its name include:
- Red rash. The rash looks like a sunburn and feels like sandpaper. It typically begins on the face or neck and spreads to the trunk, arms and legs. If pressure is applied to the reddened skin, it will turn pale. Scarlatina treatment in Khammam
- Red lines. The folds of skin around the groin, armpits, elbows, knees and neck usually become a deeper red than the surrounding rash.
- Flushed face. The face may appear flushed with a pale ring around the mouth.
- Strawberry tongue. The tongue generally looks red and bumpy, and it’s often covered with a white coating early in the disease.
Causes
- Scarlet fever is caused by the same type of bacteria that cause strep throat. In scarlet fever, the bacteria release a toxin that produces the rash and red tongue.
- The infection spreads from person to person via droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The incubation period – the time between exposure and illness – is usually two to four days. Scarlatina treatment in Khammam
Risk factors
Children 5 to 15 years of age are more likely than are other people to get scarlet fever. Scarlet fever germs spread more easily among people in close contact, such as family members or classmates.
Complications
If scarlet fever goes untreated, the bacteria may spread to the:
- Tonsils
- Lungs
- skin
- Kidneys
- Blood
Prevention
There is no vaccine to prevent scarlet fever. The best prevention strategies for scarlet fever are the same as the standard precautions against infections:
- Wash your hands. Show your child how to wash his or her hands thoroughly with warm soapy water.
- Don’t share dining utensils or food. As a rule, your child shouldn’t share drinking glasses or eating utensils with friends or classmates. This rule applies to sharing food, too.
- Cover your mouth and nose. Tell your child to cover his or her mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to prevent the potential spread of germs.