Scarlet Fever in Adults

Scarlet Fever in Adults

Scarlet fever causes a high temperature with Sore Throat and a rash. Children between the ages of 2 to 10 are at a greater risk of catching scarlet fever. However, it can affect anyone from any age group. Though it was considered a serious illness with life-threatening consequences, it has become less serious in the last decade or so. It causes many complications if not treated in a timely manner. Keep reading to find out more about causes and treatment options for scarlet fever.

What Causes Scarlet Fever in Adults?
A bacterium called streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for causing scarlet fever. Streptococcus pyogenes is the same bacterium that causes Strep Throat. Adults experience symptoms of scarlet fever when the bacteria release toxins.

In addition, some specific strains of streptococcus pyogenes are linked to skin infections, such as Impetigo. These strains can also cause scarlet fever, though it is quite rare these days.

How Does It Spread?
You may become infected by inhaling the bacteria through droplets of water released when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The bacteria may also land on hard surfaces such as drinking glasses, doorknobs and infect people who are exposed to these areas. You may become infected if you touch the skin of someone suffering from a streptococcal skin infection. Sharing clothes, towels, or bed linens with an infected person may also contribute to contracting the infection.

Interestingly, some people develop scarlet fever but they do not have any symptoms because they are sensitive to the toxins released by streptococcal bacteria. These people are also contagious and can transfer infection to others.

What Are the Symptoms?
Scarlet fever in adults usually produces the same symptoms you experience when you have strep infection. Red tongue, Pastia's lines, flushed face, and a rash are the most common symptoms. The only difference is that you will develop a rash when you have scarlet fever. The most common symptoms of scarlet fever include the following:

• Fever of 101°F or higher


• Sore throat with difficulty swallowing


• Yellow or white coating or spots on the tonsils and throat


• Swollen Lymph Nodes in the neck

You are more likely to experience some other symptoms before you develop the rash. This list includes stomachache, Headache, listlessness, vomiting, and general body aches. You usually do not experience cold symptoms, such as runny nose, Sneezing, or cough. It takes some time (24 hours or longer after the infection) for the rash to develop, which will feel like fine sandpaper. It begins on the abdomen and chest, but then spreads over the rest of the body in a couple of days. The redness is more apparent in skin folds, such as in the armpits, groin, and elbow creases.

Treatments for Scarlet Fever
Most mild cases resolve within a week without any medical intervention. However, you should talk to your doctor because getting treatment will help accelerate recovery and prevent further complications. You will start to feel better after 4-5 days of treatment.

Your doctor will recommend a 10-day course of antibiotics. You may have to take oral penicillin, but your doctor will advise against it if you are allergic to penicillin. You can take erythromycin in this case. You may take amoxicillin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, or a cephalosporin such as cephalexin. Scarlet fever in adults stays contagious even when there are no symptoms, so it is important to complete the full course of antibiotics.

Note:Adults with scarlet fevershould stay off work for at least 1 dayafter starting treatment.

Prevent SpreadingScarlet Fever
You have to follow the same prevention strategies that are recommended for all infection diseases. For instance:

• Limit your social interaction while you are infected.


• Use tissues or handkerchiefs when sneezing and wash them immediately with warm water and soap.


• Wash your hands thoroughly as frequently as possible.


• Never share your drinking glasses and other utensils with others.

Scarlet Fever in Children

Scarlet Fever in Children

Scarlet fever, caused by group A strep infection, was once a potentially fatal childhood disease, but now it is possible to treat it. Your doctor may order a test for strep if your child has a rash and Sore Throat. The treatment option involves giving your child antibiotics to avoid any long-term health problems. Keep reading to learn more about scarlet fever in children and some ways to protect your child from developing it in the first place.

What Is Scarlet Fever in Children?
Scarlet fever is a complication associated with Strep Throat. Caused by the same group of bacteria that are responsible for causing strep throat, scarlet fever or scarlatina usually affects children between 5 and 15 years of age. Scarlet fever in children will cause a bright red rash with a sore throat and high fever. The red rash is the typical symptom of scarlet fever; in fact, it gets its name from the red rash.

What Are the Symptoms of Scarlet Fever?
Once your child develops scarlet fever, you will notice certain symptoms, such as the following:

• Red rash: Your child will develop red rash that will look more like sunburn. It usually appears on the face first and then spreads to the arms, trunk and legs. The red rash will turn pale if you apply pressure to it.


• Red lines: You will notice the folds of skin around armpits, groin, knees, elbows and neck become deep red as compared to the surrounding rash.


• Flushed face: In addition to rashes, you may also notice the face of your child appear flushed. There may also be a pale ring around their mouth.


• Strawberry tongue: The tongue of your child will look bumpy and with a white coating early in the disease – the tongue will look red once the disease progresses.

It may take about a week for redness to go away, but it is followed by the peeling off of the affected skin. Other common signs include fever in excess of 101 °F, difficulty swallowing, very sore throat with white patches, nausea, enlarged glands in the neck,and Headache. You need to see your doctor immediately if your child has a sore throat with a red rash, swollen glands in the neck, and a fever higher than 102 °F.

Is Scarlet Fever Contagious?
Yes, it is. The incubation period for scarlet fever can be anywhere between 12 hours and a week. Your child is contagious during the incubation period as well as during the acute illness. It means that the disease is contagious even when you don't notice any symptoms yet. However, the strep infection is contagious, the rash isn't. Research shows that about 80% of children develop immunity against the streptococcus exotoxin once they reach age 10.

How to Diagnose Scarlet Fever in Children
Your doctor can diagnose scarlet fever by examining your child and looking for certain physical symptoms such as a rash, sore throat or red tongue. If they suspect your child has the strep bacteria, they will swab the back of your child's throat to collect a sample for testing. Since a number of conditions can lead to scarlet fever, it is important to perform a test to identify the right treatment. Sometimes, no strep bacteria are found in the test, which means your child has another illness that's causing a sore throat.

How to Treat Scarlet Fever in Children
Once it is confirmed that your child has scarlet fever, your doctor will then identify the most appropriate treatment option to deal with the specific symptoms and the test results of your child. Here are some specific treatment options used to treat scarlet fever in children.

1. Antibiotics
As bacteria cause scarlet fever, your child will benefit from antibiotics. These antibiotics are usually quite effective against GABHS (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci). Your child may have to take an oral penicillin medication for the first 10 days. In rare cases, patients require a single injection of penicillin G benzathine. An injection is usually a better choice in patients who cannot retain oral antibiotics. Some other antibiotics from the family of the cephalosporin may also prove effective for scarlet fever in children. Even if GABHS is resistant to some antibiotics, the use will help prevent complications such as Rheumatic fever. Just keep in mind that not all antibiotics are appropriate for children, so only use antibiotics as per your doctor's instructions.

2. Home Care
While antibiotics will help clear the infection, you can also take some home-care measures to minimize the discomfort. It is difficult for your child to eat and swallow anything due to a strep throat, so you should switch to a liquid diet instead. Give your child warm nutritious soups and soothing teas – cool soft drinks and popsicles will also work. Be sure to give your child plenty of fluids to prevent Dehydration. You can also give OTC pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate throat pain. Keep your child's fingernails trimmed or they will damage their skin while scratching the rash. Use an OTC anti-itch medicine to relieve itching.

How to Prevent Scarlet Fever in Children
It is not easy to see your child in pain due to the symptoms caused by scarlet fever. Therefore, it is best to take some preventive measures to protect your child from getting infected. Early diagnosis will really help reduce the chances of complications, but you should also take steps to ensure that your child doesn't get exposed to group A streptococcal infection. Don't let them get in touch with someone who is diagnosed with strep throat. Also, you should not send your child to school if they are infected. This will save other kids from becoming infected. You should also teach your children good hygiene practices and tell them to wash their hands frequently and don't share their eating utensils with others.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet Fever






Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus bacteria and is a common childhood disease. The bacteria inject a toxin substance into the child that may cause rashes on the neck and throat.

The symptoms of scarlet fever are fever, Sore Throat, redness in neck, and rashes on the throat region which then progressively spreads throughout the body. It feels like sandpaper on the skin. The rash may last up to 7 days and sometimes even more. Peeling of the skin takes place when rash withers away. Apart from the above symptoms, there may be Headache, chills, stomach pain, discomfort and muscle aches.

The doctor will first examine the child and confirm the diagnosis by throat culture test. Antibiotics are given to control the bacterial infection. You should not delay in seeking medical care, since there is risk of getting Strep Throat with scarlet fever. A course of antibiotics will cure the symptoms completely.

Pictures of Scarlet Fever :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Scarlet Fever