For example, if someone has scarlet fever, it often spreads to other people in their household. Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather together. Crowded conditions can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:. Many viruses and bacteria can cause an illness that includes a red rash and sore throat.
Only a rapid strep test or a throat culture can determine if group A strep are the cause. A rapid strep test involves swabbing the throat and testing the swab. The test quickly shows if group A strep are causing the illness.
If the test is positive, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects scarlet fever, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab. A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses.
Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated scarlet fever infection. For adults, it is usually not necessary to do a throat culture following a negative rapid strep test. Adults are generally not at risk of getting rheumatic fever following scarlet fever. Doctors treat scarlet fever with antibiotics. Either penicillin or amoxicillin are recommended as a first choice for people who are not allergic to penicillin.
Doctors can use other antibiotics to treat scarlet fever in people who are allergic to penicillin. Complications are rare but can occur after having scarlet fever.
This can happen if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Complications can include:. People can get scarlet fever more than once. Having scarlet fever does not protect someone from getting it again in the future.
While there is no vaccine to prevent scarlet fever, there are things people can do to protect themselves and others.
However, the incubation period the time between exposure to the infection and symptoms starting can be as short as one day or as long as seven days.
The symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat , headache , high temperature The distinctive pink-red rash develops 12 to 48 hours later. Red blotches are the first sign of the rash.
These turn into a fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch and looks like sunburn. It may also be itchy. The rash usually starts on the chest and stomach, but soon spreads to other parts of the body, such as the ears, neck, elbows, inner thighs and groin.
The rash doesn't usually spread to the face. However, the cheeks become flushed and the area just around the mouth stays quite pale. The rash will turn white if you press a glass on it. The rash usually fades after about a week, but the outer layers of skin, usually on the hands and feet, may peel for several weeks afterwards.
See your GP as soon as possible if you think you or your child has scarlet fever. Although the illness usually clears up after about a week, your GP will be able to confirm a diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment. Most cases of scarlet fever clear up after about a week without treatment. However, treatment is recommended. Treatment reduces the length of time you're contagious, speeds up recovery and lowers the risk of complications of scarlet fever.
With treatment, most people recover in about four to five days and can return to nursery, school or work 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment. Scarlet fever is usually treated with a day course of antibiotics. This is often in the form of penicillin or amoxicillin tablets, although liquid may be used for young children. For people who are allergic to penicillin, alternative antibiotics such as erythromycin can be used instead.
The fever usually gets better within 24 hours of starting antibiotics, with the other symptoms disappearing within a few days. However, it's important that the whole course of treatment is completed to ensure the infection is fully cleared. Keep your child away from nursery or school for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment. Adults with scarlet fever should also stay off work for at least 24 hours after starting treatment.
Many of the symptoms of scarlet fever can be relieved using some simple self care measures, such as:. Most cases of scarlet fever don't cause complications, particularly if the condition is properly treated.
You may have one of these rare complications if you're very unwell, in severe pain and have a severe headache , vomiting or diarrhoea. See your GP immediately if any of these symptoms appear in the first few weeks after the main infection has cleared up. Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Scarlet fever. Scarlet fever See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About scarlet fever 2. Symptoms of scarlet fever 3.
Treating scarlet fever 4. It spreads to the chest and back, then to the rest of the body. In body creases, especially around the underarms, elbows, and groin, the rash forms red streaks. Also, the tonsils and back of the throat might be covered with a whitish coating, or look red, swollen, and dotted with whitish or yellowish specks of pus. Early in the infection, the tongue may have a whitish or yellowish coating.
A child with scarlet fever also may have chills, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. In rare cases, scarlet fever may develop from a streptococcal skin infection like impetigo. In these cases, the child may not get a sore throat. To confirm whether a child has scarlet fever, doctors usually order a rapid strep test or throat culture a painless swab of the throat to check for the strep bacteria.
If a strep infection is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for a child to take for about 10 days. That usually will cure the infection itself, but it may take a few weeks for the tonsils and swollen glands to return to normal. Eating can be painful for kids with severe strep throat, so serving soft foods or a liquid diet may be best.
Include soothing teas and warm nutritious soups, or cool drinks, popsicles, or slushies. Make sure that your child drinks plenty of fluids.
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