Scarlet fever
Overview
Scarlet fever is a contagious infection that mostly affects young children. It's easily treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms
The first signs of scarlet fever can be flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of your neck). A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads. The rash makes your skin feel rough, like sandpaper. On white skin the rash looks pink or red. On brown and black skin it might be harder to see a change in colour, but you can still feel the rash and see the raised bumps. A white coating also appears on the tongue. This peels, leaving the tongue red, swollen and covered in little bumps (called "strawberry tongue"). The rash does not appear on the face, but the cheeks can look red. The redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin. Sometimes the skin peels, like sunburn, as the rash fades. The symptoms are the same for children and adults, although scarlet fever is less common in adults.
Causes
Bacterial infection (Group A Streptococcus). Highly contagious.
Treatment
Antibiotics (Penicillin/Amoxicillin). Fluids; Paracetamol.
Prevention
Scarlet fever is very infectious and can easily spread to other people. There are things you can do to reduce the chance of spreading scarlet fever. stay off nursery, school or work until 24 hours after you take the 1st dose of antibiotics stay off nursery, school or work until 24 hours after you take the 1st dose of antibiotics wash your hands often with soap and water wash your hands often with soap and water use tissues to trap germs from coughs or sneezes use tissues to trap germs from coughs or sneezes bin used tissues as quickly as possible bin used tissues as quickly as possible do not share cutlery, cups, towels, clothes, bedding or baths with anyone else do not share cutlery, cups, towels, clothes, bedding or baths with anyone else
When to see a doctor
See GP if: you have symptoms (needs antibiotics).