What is Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is caused by group A streptococcus bacteria which make a poison that can cause the scarlet-colored rash from which this illness gets its name. The incubation period of scarlet fever in children is usually 1 - 4 days. If a child has this scarlet rash and other symptoms of strep throat, it can be treated with antibiotics. So if your child has these symptoms, it's important to call your doctor.

Complications of Scarlet fever
If your child has impetigo, scarlet fever can also be spread by touch. People living in crowded conditions are more at risk of the condition. If left untreated Scarlet fever can cause which include:

• Acute Rheumatic Fever
• Adenitis Or Abscess
• Arthritis
• Hepatitis
• Kidney Damage
• Meningitis
• Middle Ear Infection,
• Osteomyelitis
• Osteomyelitis
• Pneumonia
• Septicaemia,
• Sinusitis

Causes of Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is caused by

• If an infected person coughs or sneezes, the bacteria can become airborne, or the bacteria may be present on things the person touches - a drinking glass or a doorknob.
   

• Scarlet fever strep bacteria can also contaminate food, especially milk, but this mode of transmission isn't as common.
   

• Strep bacteria that cause scarlet fever spread from one person to another by fluids from the mouth and nose.
   

• Streptococcal bacteria, the same bacteria that cause strep throat. The type of strep that infects the throat and causes scarlet fever is called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABS).

If scarlet fever isn't treated, a person may be contagious for a few weeks even after the illness itself has passed.

Signs & Symptoms of Scarlet fever
The following are the common initial symptoms of scarlet fever. The rash begins one to two days after the initial infection. The red sandpaper-like rash is noted on the neck, forehead, cheeks, and chest and then may spread to the arms and back. The rash usually begins to fade after three to four days. The symptoms of scarlet fever may resemble other skin conditions or medical problems.

• Abdominal Pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of Appetite
• Nausea
• Rashes like a sunburn
• Sore Throat
• Strawberry tongue
• Swollen neck glands
• Tonsils
• Vomiting

How is scarlet fever diagnosed?
To diagnose the cause of your child’s rash or sore throat, your doctor or healthcare provider will examine your child and swab the back of the throat with a cotton swab. The swab will be then used for a throat culture or a rapid antigen test (sometimes called a “rapid strep test”) to see if there is a group A strep infection.

Is there anything else I can do to make my child feel better?
Warm liquids like soup or cold foods like popsicles or milkshakes help to ease the pain of the sore throat. Offer these to your child often, especially when he/she has a fever since the body needs a lot of fluid when it is sick with a fever. A cool mist humidifier will help to keep the air in your child's room moist which will keep the throat from getting too dry and more sore. Your child needs plenty of rest.

What should I do if I think my child has scarlet fever?
If you think your child has scarlet fever, take your child to his or her doctor right away. The doctor may give your child drugs that fight germs (antibiotics). Do not let your child return to daycare or school until he or she has taken the antibiotics for at least 24 hours.

sTreatments of Scarlet fever
If the child has a rash and the doctor suspect scarlet fever, he or she will usually take a throat culture to see if the bacteria grow in the laboratory. Once a strep infection is confirmed, the doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic for your child to be taken for about 10 days.

• Antibiotics: With antibiotic treatment the fever improves within 12 - 24 hours and recovery is made in 4 - 5 days. It would be a long process and may take a few weeks to treat swollen glands and tonsils to return to normal.
   
• It is very important that the child should completes the full course of antibiotics