Symptoms
Your child’s healthcare provider asks about your child’s symptoms and health history. Your child is examined. If the provider thinks your child has scarlet fever, he or she will swab the back of your child’s throat to check for strep bacteria.
Causes
Scarlet fever is an illness that appears as a red (scarlet) rash on the body. It is caused by the same bacteria that causes strep throat. Scarlet fever was once a serious childhood illness. Now it can be treated with medicine and home care. Children generally recover from scarlet fever within a week after starting treatment.
Prevention
Bone broth is the number one food to feed a feverish child because it is soothing to the digestive tract and provides all the essential amino acids necessary for tissue repair. One cup of bone broth contains around 50 calories, 5g of fat, and 9g of protein.
Complications
Anyone can get scarlet fever, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this infection. Scarlet fever, like strep throat, is more common in children than adults. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old.
What to do if your child has scarlet fever?
What is scarlet fever in children?
What is the best food to feed a feverish child?
Who can get scarlet fever?
What is the fastest way to cure scarlet fever?
Scarlet fever is usually treated with a 10-day course of antibiotics. This is often in the form of penicillin or amoxicillin tablets, although liquid may be used for young children. For people who are allergic to penicillin, alternative antibiotics such as erythromycin can be used instead.
What's good for scarlet fever?
Doctors treat scarlet fever with antibiotics. Either penicillin or amoxicillin are recommended as a first choice for people who are not allergic to penicillin. Doctors can use other antibiotics to treat scarlet fever in people who are allergic to penicillin.
How long does scarlet fever last in a child?
Scarlet fever lasts for around 1 week. You can spread scarlet fever to other people up to 6 days before you get symptoms until 24 hours after you take your 1st dose of antibiotics. If you do not take antibiotics, you can spread the infection for 2 to 3 weeks after your symptoms start.
How do you treat scarlet fever in children?
How is scarlet fever treated in a child?Having your child gargle with warm saline (saltwater) to ease the sore throat.Making sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.Giving acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever or throat pain. Never give aspirin to a child. It can cause a dangerous condition called Reye syndrome.
Does Benadryl help with scarlet fever?
Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that cause the throat infection. For sore throat pain, you may use a combination of equal parts of over the counter medications (Benadryl Allergy 12.5mg/5ml and cherry Maalox.)
How serious is scarlet fever?
Although scarlet fever was once considered a serious childhood illness, antibiotic treatments have made it less threatening. Still, if left untreated, scarlet fever can result in more-serious conditions that affect the heart, kidneys and other parts of the body.
Can I catch scarlet fever from my child?
Scarlet fever, is highly contagious and is spread by close contact with someone carrying the bacteria. It takes around 2 to 5 days to develop symptoms after exposure to these bacteria. If you think you or your child has scarlet fever, you should consult your GP .
Should I go to the hospital for scarlet fever?
Call the doctor whenever your child suddenly develops a rash, especially if he or she also has a fever, sore throat, or swollen glands. This is especially important if your child has any of the symptoms of strep throat, or if someone in your family or at your child's daycare or school recently had a strep infection.
How long does scarlet fever last?
The fever will usually subside within 24 hours of starting this, but it is important to take the whole course to completely clear these bacteria from your throat and protect others from becoming infected. If scarlet fever is not treated with antibiotics, it can be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks after the symptoms appear.
Can scarlet fever go away on its own?
Most mild cases of scarlet fever resolve themselves within a week without treatment. However, treatment is important, as this will accelerate recovery and reduce the risk of complications. Treatment normally involves a 10-day course of oral antibiotics, usually penicillin.
What happens if scarlet fever is left untreated?
If you have scarlet fever and do not treat it, you're at risk. It can lead to rheumatic fever, which can cause serious health problems. Complications are rare, but can include kidney, liver, or heart damage. You may get an ear, sinus, or skin infection, pneumonia, or arthritis.
How serious is scarlet fever?
Although scarlet fever was once considered a serious childhood illness, antibiotic treatments have made it less threatening. Still, if left untreated, scarlet fever can result in more-serious conditions that affect the heart, kidneys and other parts of the body.