Scarlet fever is a disease caused by a bacterial infection, specifically by a group A streptococcus. This infection is characterized by red or scarlet spots that appear on the skin, in addition to other symptoms such as fever, tonsillitis or pharyngitis on some occasions. Scarlet fever can affect anyone, although it usually occurs in childhood.
Specifically, the highest incidence is found in children aged between 5 and 12 years. Although it is not a serious disease, it needs to be treated quickly to prevent symptoms from causing bigger problems. Knowing how to appreciate and distinguish the general symptoms of scarlet fever will help you differentiate this from any other infection, which is essential when starting the appropriate treatment.
Causes of scarlet fever
As with these types of infectious diseases, scarlet fever is contracted by a group A streptococcus, through the nose and mouth. Therefore, it is spread through droplets of saliva suspended in the air that an infected person spreads by coughing or sneezing. That is to say, children are easily infected because they share space with their peers at school and in the usual recreation areas.
What are the general symptoms?
The main symptoms of scarlet fever can be confused with other typical conditions from colder months, such as the flu, the common cold, or tonsillitis.
These are the general symptoms of scarlet fever:
- General discomfort, pain in the joints, muscles and in general physical pain, as well as a constant feeling of fatigue.
- High fever, higher than 38º.
- Headache.
- Nausea, vomiting and chills.
- Swollen glands throat, redness and difficulty swallowing.
- Swelling of the tongue, in addition to being more whitish than usual. It can also become excessively red.
- Skin rashes, redness and scales, usually on the inside of the elbows, armpits and groin.
Treatment for scarlet fever
When the doctor determines and verifies that it is a scarlet fever infection, the usual is that an antibiotic-based treatment is prescribed to kill the bacteria. The treatment must be carried out completely and following the pediatrician's instructions, since if not treated correctly, it could lead to serious health problems.
These are some of the complications that can result from scarlet fever:
- Rheumatic fever: an inflammatory disease that can affect various organs such as the heart, the brain, the skin or the joints.
- Otitis: Children often suffer from ear infections, one of the consequences of scarlet fever can be otitis media. A very painful inflammation and annoying for children.
- Arthritis: What is the iinflammation of the joints.
- Kidney disease: Produced by inflammation of the kidneys, caused by scarlet fever.
- Pneumonia: It is a lung infection.
- Various skin infections.
- Abscesses and sores in the throat.
Precautionary measures
Teach children to prevent the spread of infections and diseases, is the best way to avoid massive infections in schools. Children by nature share physical space with other children, they kiss, touch, hug and share their things generously. However, in the same way of sharing your life with other children, there is the greatest risk of contagion of various diseases.
Especially in these times when the world is fighting the pandemic caused by Covid, it is essential that everyone, including children, learn and develop hygiene and prevention habits. Frequent hand washing is the main measure preventive, as well as avoiding touching the face, especially the eyes, nose and mouth. They must also learn to drink only from their glass or bottle, because in everyday objects there is also a great risk of contagion.
In short, teaching children to take care of your own healthIt is as important as any other lesson that parents naturally teach. In the same way that you teach your children to brush their teeth to take care of their oral health, you must teach them other ways to care for and protect themselves, because in this way, they also protect other people.