What is scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever is a bacterial throat infection caused by the “strep” bacteria accompanied by a body rash.

What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?

• Sore throat or pain with swallowing

• Fever

• Headache

• Red rash over most of the body which feels rough like sandpaper

• Abdominal pain

Home care

Your child should be evaluated in our office. Please call our office today for an appointment.

Medicine:

• Scarlet fever needs to be treated with an antibiotic.

• Fill the prescription right away.

• Your child must take all the medicine, even if she feels better.

• Not taking all of the medicine can result in the infection returning and becoming harder to treat.

• Use acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Tempra®, or Panadol®) or ibuprofen  (Advil®, Motrin®) for pain and discomfort. Avoid ibuprofen if your child  is dehydrated or unable to take anything by mouth.

• Follow the package instructions to determine the appropriate dose by your child’s WEIGHT or age for acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

• Do not use aspirin because of the increased risk of Reye’s Syndrome with certain infections.

• Try salt water gargles for your child’s sore throat.

• Give cool liquids to drink to ease the throat pain.

If your child seems to have a mild illness and is not taking  in as much by mouth, try increasing fluid intake by offering small  amounts more often.

• For children under one year of age, give 1-2 ounces of formula, breast milk, or rehydration therapy (e.g. Pedialyte®, Rehydrate®, Infalyte®) every 30 minutes to an hour.

• Do not give children under 2 large amounts of water.

• Older children who are more severely dehydrated (see warning signs) should be given rehydration therapy.

The rash should fade with the proper antibiotic treatment.

The skin on your child’s hands and feet may peel. This is the normal course of the skin rash and is harmless.

Warning signs – Call our office for advice if:

Your child’s rash is red or purple and does not turn pale briefly after pressing on it, Call Our Office Now.

Your child refuses to drink, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has any signs of dehydration such as no tears while crying, dry lips and mouth, fewer wet diapers (around 6 per day is normal), or sunken eyes, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has more trouble swallowing, Call Our Office Now.

Your child still has a fever after taking medicine for 3 days, Call Our Office Now.

Your child complains of pains in her knees, elbows, fingers or toes, Call Our Office Now.

Your child develops dark or “cola-colored” urine, Call Our Office Now.

Your child gets puffy or swollen especially around the eyes, Call Our Office Now.

Your child’s rash gets worse on antibiotics, Call Our Office Now.

You have any questions or concerns, or if you have any doubts about the severity of your child’s symptoms, Call Our Office Now.