As a parent, witnessing your child feeling unwell can be quite distressing. Scarlet fever in children, while concerning, can be managed effectively with timely treatment and care. By staying vigilant, practicing good hygiene, and seeking medical attention, you can support your child's health and well-being.
© Shutterstock - Strawberry Tongue - Scarlet Fever
What is Scarlet Fever?
Scarlet fever is a common bacterial infection among children and is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is a highly contagious infection that primarily affects children aged 5 to 15, but it can occur in individuals of any age. It spreads rapidly through respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes or by touching surfaces contaminated with the bacteria. Scarlet fever can recur multiple times.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If your child experiences symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, or rash, please visit you pediatrician.. The doctor can diagnose scarlet fever based on symptoms and may perform a throat swab for confirmation.
Contact your pediatrician, describe the symptoms and inform them of your assumption. The medical practice needs this information to schedule you separately from other patients, possibly directing you to an isolation room or infection consultation.
Symptoms and Disease Progression
Symptoms typically appear 1 to 3 days after infection:
Day 1: Sudden onset of fever, sore throat, headaches, and possibly vomiting.
Days 2 to 4: High fever persists, accompanied by a rash that starts in the armpits and inner thighs, spreading to the whole body. The tongue may develop a "strawberry" appearance.
Days 5 to 7: The tongue transitions to a "raspberry" appearance, and lymph nodes become swollen. The rash begins to fade, and peeling of the skin starts, lasting for weeks.
© DermaNetNZ
Contagious Period
With antibiotic treatment, the patient becomes non-contagious within 24 hours of the first dose. Without treatment, they can remain contagious for up to 3 weeks.
Treatment and Management
Scarlet fever is typically treated with antibiotics to shorten the contagious period and reduce complications. Penicillin, usually administered orally, is the primary antibiotic for scarlet fever. It's crucial to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if your child starts to feel better before finishing the medication.
Your doctor may also recommend Ibuprofen to lower the temperature and alleviate discomfort and pain. Always consult the medication's packaging for the recommended dosage based on your child's age and weight.
*Be cautious when giving over-the-counter medicines to children! Not all over-the-counter medicines are suitable for certain ages. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for the correct dosage based on your child’s age and size.
How to Support Your Child
Managing scarlet fever in children or babies can be a very worrying time for parents. Remember to take breaks and rest while your child is resting, and ensure you stay hydrated by drinking enough water.
During this time, it's important for your child to rest and receive lots of love and care.
Encourage plenty of rest to help the body fight off the infection, and offer fluids to prevent dehydration, especially if your child has a fever.
Provide soft, soothing foods if your child's throat is sore.
If you'd like to gently reduce the fever, you can try using warm compresses on your child's calves with lukewarm water (never use cold water, and change the compress after a maximum of 10 minutes).
Additionally, using a damp, lukewarm washcloth on the forehead can help provide comfort.
Remember to change bed linens, towels, etc., frequently to prevent the spread of infection.
Possible Complications
Complications of scarlet fever may include inflammation of the middle ear, sinuses, and lungs. Rare but serious late complications include acute rheumatic fever, which involves inflammation of large joints such as the knee joints, heart muscle, pericardium, or heart valves, as well as kidney inflammation. Complications are more common when scarlet fever is left untreated with antibiotics or when antibiotic therapy is prematurely discontinued.
Preventing Spread
Teach hand hygiene, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding sharing personal items.
Returning to School or Childcare
Children with scarlet fever should stay home until non-contagious.
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