Scarlet fever

Some kids get a red rash.

It can feel rough like sandpaper. Your face may look red. Your tongue might look bumpy too.

This happens when tiny germs spread. Germs can spread by coughing or sneezing. You can also get them from touching things.

It can make your throat feel sore. You might also have a fever. Doctors can use medicine to help you feel better.

Wash your hands often to stay well. Do not share your things with others.

Scarlet fever is an illness caused by germs.

These germs are called Streptococcus pyogenes. They are a type of Group A streptococcus. This sickness often affects kids between five and 15 years old. It usually starts with a sore throat and fever.

One to two days later, a red rash appears. The rash can feel rough like sandpaper. It often starts on the neck or chest. Then it spreads to the arms and legs.

Your face might look very red. The skin around your mouth may look pale.

Your tongue may change too. At first, it may have a white coating. Later, it can look red and bumpy. This is called a strawberry tongue.

The rash happens because the germs make toxins. These toxins are poisons that hurt tiny blood vessels.

Germs spread when people cough or sneeze. You can also get them from touching objects. Doctors use antibiotics to treat the sickness. This medicine helps you feel better. It also stops the germs from spreading.

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease that causes a very specific kind of red rash.

It is caused by a germ called Streptococcus pyogenes. This germ is part of a group known as Group A streptococcus. Most often, this sickness affects children and young people between five and 15 years old. It usually starts with a sudden sore throat and a fever.

People may also feel very tired or have a headache. Some people even feel sick to their stomach or have a stomach ache.

The disease works in a very specific way. It often begins as a regular strep throat infection.

The bacteria produce special poisons called exotoxins. These toxins cause damage to tiny blood vessels called capillaries. This damage is what creates the red rash on the skin.

The rash can feel rough like sandpaper to the touch. It often starts on the neck or torso before spreading to the arms and legs. The tongue may also change. It might look white at first, but then it becomes red and bumpy like a strawberry.

In the early 20th century, scarlet fever was a leading cause of death in children.

However, the severity of the disease began to decline even before World War II. This might have happened because of better living conditions. It could also be because people used better control measures. Another reason might be that the bacteria became less strong over time. Today, we have ways to treat the illness much more easily.

There are many important facts to know about this illness. A person with strep throat has a 35% chance of spreading it to someone close by.

About one in ten children with strep throat will develop scarlet fever. Doctors can confirm the illness by using a swab to look at the throat. While there is no vaccine, doctors use antibiotics to treat it. These medicines help reduce symptoms and stop the spread. If not treated, the illness can lead to harder jobs for the body, like kidney disease or arthritis.

You can think of the rash like a signal from your body. It tells you that the toxins are working.

Just like you wash your hands to stay clean, washing hands helps stop these germs. You can also stay healthy by not sharing personal items with others. If you are sick, staying away from other people is a good idea. This helps keep the germs from finding a new path to other people.

By following these simple steps, we can help keep our friends and family well.

Scarlet fever, also called scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by bacteria.

These bacteria belong to a group known as Group A streptococcus (GAS). The specific species responsible is Streptococcus pyogenes. This illness is most common in children and young adolescents. Most cases affect people between five and 15 years of age. It is a significant medical condition because it involves unique toxins. These toxins cause distinct physical changes in the body. Understanding how these bacteria interact with the human system is vital for medicine.

The disease process often begins with a standard streptococcal infection. This might be strep throat, known as streptococcal pharyngitis, or tonsillitis.

The bacteria produce special substances called streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPEs). These toxins are the primary cause of the characteristic rash. There are several types of these toxins, including SPEs A, B, C, and F. Specifically, a bacteriophage called T12 helps produce the SPEA toxin.

This toxin acts as a superantigen. It triggers an extensive immune response by activating many immune cells at once. This response leads to capillary damage, which creates the visible redness on the skin.

Symptoms appear in several distinct stages. First, a person may experience a sudden sore throat and fever.

The fever can exceed 39 °C (102.2 °F). The throat may appear red with small spots on the roof of the mouth. The tonsils might be enlarged and covered in exudate. Between 30% and 60% of patients also have swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck. Next, the characteristic scarlatiniform rash appears. This rash usually shows up one to seven days after the initial illness. It starts as small flat spots on the neck or torso.

These spots develop into small bumps that spread to the arms and legs. The skin feels rough, much like sandpaper. The tongue also changes during this time. Initially, it may have a white coating with red bumps, called a "white strawberry tongue." After a few days, the coating sheds to reveal a red, bumpy "red strawberry tongue."

The appearance of the rash varies depending on skin tone.

On light skin, the rash is a diffuse redness that blanches when pressed. The cheeks may look flushed with a pale area around the mouth. On darker-pigmented skin, the rash can be much harder to see. In these cases, the bumps are typically larger and the skin feels very rough. The pale area around the mouth might not be as obvious. The rash generally spares the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. After the rash fades, the skin may undergo desquamation. This is a process where the skin peels, often starting on the face and moving down. This peeling can last for several weeks.

History shows that scarlet fever was once a much more dangerous disease. In the early 20th century, it was a leading cause of death among children. However, its severity began to decline even before World War II. Scientists believe this decline happened for several reasons. Better living conditions and improved control measures likely helped. It is also possible that the virulence, or strength, of the bacteria decreased over time. Today, the disease is much more manageable with antibiotics. These medicines help reduce symptoms and prevent the spread to others. However, we must watch for antibiotic resistance, which was noted in outbreaks in Hong Kong and the UK.

If the infection is not treated properly, complications can occur. These are divided into two categories: suppurative and nonsuppurative. Suppurative complications involve the direct spread of infection. This can lead to abscesses, cellulitis, or even meningitis. Nonsuppurative complications are caused by an autoimmune response. This happens through a process called molecular mimicry. In this case, the body's antibodies attack its own healthy tissues. One serious result is acute rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart. This can lead to rheumatic heart disease and damage to the mitral valve.

Another complication is poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, which is inflammation of the kidneys.

Understanding the spread of scarlet fever helps in prevention. The bacteria move through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.

If a person is in close contact with an infected individual, they have a 35% chance of catching it. About one in ten children with strep throat will develop scarlet fever. To stay safe, people should practice frequent handwashing and avoid sharing personal items. Staying away from others when sick is also important. These steps help break the chain of infection in the community.